Low Fibre /
Low Residue Diet
Dietary fibre is the undigestible part of plants that maintains
the structure of the plant. Dietary fibre includes cellulose, hemicellulose,
polysaccharides, pectins, gums, mucilages, and lignins. Although
they are chemically unrelated, they all resist digestion by the
human body. It is this resistance that makes these fibres important
in both the normal functioning and in disorders of the large intestine
or colon.
In certain medical conditions, it is important to restrict fibre.
These include acute or subacute diverticulitis, and the acute phases
of certain inflammatory conditions of the bowel - ulcerative colitis
or Crohn's disease. After some types of intestinal surgery, a low
fibre, low residue diet may be used as a transition to a regular
diet. A low fibre diet is also used for a period of time after a
colostomy or ileostomy is performed.
If the diet must be strict and followed over a long period of time,
the intake of fruits and vegetables may not be adequate; and/or
on a low residue diet, there may not be enough calcium included.
In these cases, a multi-vitamin supplement or liquid nutritional
supplement may be needed.
Special Considerations
If a low fibre or low residue diet results in abdominal cramps or
discomfort, notify the dietitian or doctor immediately.
| Milk & milk products (2 or more cups daily) |
all milk products |
Low Residue Diet only 2 cups daily of all milk products |
Vegetables
(3 or more servings daily) |
lettuce; vegetable juice without pulp; the following cooked
vegetables: yellow squash (without seeds), green beans, wax
beans, spinach, pumpkin, eggplant, potatoes, without skin, asparagus,
beets, carrots |
vegetable juices with pulp, raw vegetables except lettuce,
cooked vegetables not on Recommend list |
| Fruits (2 or more servings daily) |
fruit-juices without pulp, canned fruit except pineapple,
ripe bananas, melons |
fruit-juices with pulp, canned pineapple, fresh fruit except
those on Recommend list, prunes,
prune juice, dried fruit, jam, marmalade |
| Starches-Bread & grains (4 or more servings daily) |
bread and cereals made from refined flours, pasta, white rice
|
whole-grain breads, cereals, rice, pasta; bran cereal; oatmeal
|
| Meat or meat substitutes (5 to 6 oz daily) |
meat, poultry, eggs, seafood |
chunky peanut butter, nuts, seeds, dried beans, dried peas
|
| Fats and oils (servings depend on caloric needs) |
all oils, margarine, butter |
coconut |
| Sweets and desserts (servings depend on caloric needs) |
all not on Avoid list |
desserts containing nuts, coconut |
| Miscellaneous |
all not on Avoid list |
popcorn, pickles, horseradich, relish |
|
