Low-Residue Diet

The low residue diet provides foods and drinks that are easily digested and almost completely absorbed to produce only a moderate amount of stool.

- The diet will make the stool less bulky and less frequently; it also decreases the rate at which stool passes through the body.

- The diet works by limiting foods that tent to stay in the intestine like those that contain minimal fiber and connective tissue.

- A low-fiber food is not necessarily low in residue. for instance, milk has no fiber but produces moderate amount of residue. The following is a listing of foods in order of increasing fecal output: protein, fat, milk, digestable carbohydrate, and carbohydrate without digestable material.

- The fiber content of the diet is reduce by selecting young, immature vegetables, ripe canned or well-cooked fruits, and certain raw fruits and vegetables low in fiber content.

- It is a temporary diet, once the symptoms get better, the person can begin to eat more.

When is it used? 

- Acute diarrhea with abdominal cramping

- Acute phases of inflammatory condition of the bowel such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's diseases, diversiculitis, radiation enteritis (due to radiation therapy)

- As an intermediate diet after intestinal or rectal surgery as a person progresses from a liquid diet to a regular diet. 

- Esophageal varices, ileostomies, or narrowed intestinal lumen

- May be used for a short period of time for people with partial intestinal obstruction, rectal bleeding, and stenosis of the esophageal or intestinal lumen.

How adequate is the diet?

- A low residue diet can be planned so that it meets all the essential nutrients needed by the body. In general, the diet is likely to be inadequate in fiber, calcium, vitamin C, vitamin A, and riboflavin. Vitamins and mineral supplements may be recommended. 

- In long-term use, it is suggested that the diet be combined with a residue-free liquid formula. 

Suggested Meal Plan

 Same as the regular diet but use on;y those foods that are permitted. 

 

LOW RESIDUE DIET: Contraindications

- Irritable bowel syndrome

- Diverticulosis