Many people who have had a colonoscopy to check for colon cancer will say that the time leading up to the procedure was worse. But there are ways to make it more tolerable. Here’s how.
If you have a colonoscopy coming up, a test in which a colonoscope with a light and a digital camera is threaded through the rectum and the length of the colon so that your doctor can look for signs of precancerous growths, you may be dreading it.
Most people are put to sleep with light sedation for the test itself, but the notorious lead-up is what you may be most afraid of. The day before the test, you have to drink a bowel preparation meant to clean out your colon and eat nothing but clear liquids.
Even though most people have never thought of getting ready for a colonoscopy as fun, there are things you can do before you even start taking the prep that will make it easier and help the screening test go better.
Christine Lee, MD, a gastroenterologist at the Cleveland Clinic, says that many doctors will only recommend a clear liquid diet for one full day before your prep. However, many others say you should start making changes a few days before that to avoid the stress of a less-than-ideal prep and get the best colon clean-out possible.
Some foods, like red meat, are just heavy and take longer to get out of the colon. Other foods, like corn, have heavy skins that are hard to digest and stick around. Finally, nuts can clog the scope.
Undergoing a colonoscopy requires following a strict clear liquid diet the day before the procedure This diet is necessary to thoroughly cleanse the bowels and provide clear visualization during the exam One question that often comes up is whether beef consommé can be consumed pre-colonoscopy. In this article, we’ll explore clear liquid diet guidelines, the role of beef consommé, and tips for an effective bowel prep.
What is a Colonoscopy?
The colon and rectum are checked out during a colonoscopy, which is a routine screening procedure. An endoscope, which is a long, flexible tube with a small camera on the end of it, is put into the rectum. It lets the doctor see the whole lining of the colon to check for polyps, cancers, ulcers, and other problems.
Before a colonoscopy, people must only drink clear liquids and use laxatives or enemas to completely empty their colons of all solids. This bowel cleansing provides a clear view and ensures an effective procedure.
Why Follow a Clear Liquid Diet Before Colonoscopy?
The day before a colonoscopy, patients are limited to only clear liquids. This clear liquid diet serves several important purposes:
- Empties the colon of all solid stool
- Minimizes residue to improve visibility
- Replaces fluids lost during bowel prep
- Provides necessary electrolytes
- Avoids stimulation of further bowel movements
Eating solid foods can leave waste in the colon and make it hard for the doctor to see. That’s why only transparent liquids are allowed.
What Can You Eat and Drink on a Clear Liquid Diet?
Here are the most commonly allowed clear liquids before a colonoscopy:
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Water – Plain, carbonated or flavored
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Fruit juices – Apple, white grape, lemonade, cranberry
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Soft drinks – Sprite, ginger ale, clear soda
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Gelatin – No red or purple colors
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Popsicles – No fruit pieces or cream
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Broths – Chicken, beef or vegetable
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Tea/coffee – No milk, cream or non-dairy creamers
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Clear hard candies – No red or purple colors
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Salt, pepper, sugar
Avoid anything resembling food particles, fats, pulp and opaque liquids like milk, cream or orange juice with pulp. Stick to options that are fully transparent.
Is Beef Consommé Allowed?
Beef consommé can be included on a pre-colonoscopy clear liquid diet but there are some important caveats.
Consommé is a broth that has been clarified, meaning it has been strained repeatedly to remove any particles or impurities. This results in a crystal clear, amber-colored broth.
When selecting beef consommé, be sure to:
- Choose low-sodium and low-fat varieties
- Avoid added vegetables, pasta, rice or other ingredients
- Check labels for thickeners like flour or cornstarch
- Do not use canned condensed soup – too thick
- Only use brands that are fully transparent with no cloudiness
Properly clarified and defatted beef consommé that contains no solids can be consumed. It provides protein, minerals and hydration without residue.
Sample Clear Liquid Diet with Beef Consommé
Here is a sample menu showing how beef consommé can be included the day before a colonoscopy:
Breakfast:
- 1 cup apple juice
- 1 cup beef consommé
- 1 popsicle
Mid-Morning:
- 1 cup ginger ale
- 1 cup cranberry juice diluted with water
Lunch:
- 1 cup chicken consommé
- 1 cup white grape juice
- Gelatin dessert
Afternoon:
- 1 cup clear soda
- 5 hard candies
Dinner:
- 1 cup beef consommé
- 1 cup lemonade diluted with water
- 1 cup water
Evening Snack:
- Herbal tea with lemon
- 1 popsicle
This provides around 1000 calories from various clear liquids. The consommé offers protein while the juices, sodas and pops provide carbohydrates and electrolytes.
Colonoscopy Prep Tips
Here are some additional tips for an effective colonoscopy prep:
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Stick closely to the prescribed clear liquid diet
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Drink plenty of clear liquids all day to stay hydrated
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Drink laxative solution completely and as directed
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Stay near a bathroom once laxatives take effect
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Avoid red, blue or purple colored liquids
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No alcohol for 24 hours prior
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Arrange for a ride home post-procedure
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Follow doctor’s instructions for eating, activity and medication after
Prepping properly ensures a successful colonoscopy procedure so follow all instructions carefully. Let your doctor know if you have any questions.
Can a Colonoscopy Detect Colon Cancer?
As a bonus, colonoscopies allow for the detection and removal of precancerous polyps before they turn malignant. So undergoing routine colon cancer screening starting at age 45 provides the best odds for prevention and early treatment.
The Bottom Line
Prep for the Day Before — and Get Creative
The day before a colonoscopy, you should get rid of all the food and other things that are in your colon. This will help your doctor see inside and look for problems. In addition to drinking a prep to clean out the colon, they shouldn’t eat or drink anything else that needs to be cleared out, and they shouldn’t eat anything colored (like red) that could stain the colon and cause concern if seen during the screening. Going to the store with a colonoscopy-friendly list could mean the difference between being miserable and being able to handle things the day before.
As long as the juices don’t have pulp, Lee says clear drinks like apple juice, Gatorade, coconut water, ginger ale, Sprite, white grape juice, and 7-Up are great to drink all day. “Coffee and tea are also okay provided you don’t add milk or cream,” she says. “The last thing you want to do is mix lactose in there and experience crampy abdominal pain. ” One pro tip: Make ice cubes out of clear apple juice. She had her first colonoscopy when she was 45 years old. “Slowly melt the ice cube in your mouth,” says Cherry Dumaual, 69. “It really helps. ”.
Savory broth “This includes vegetable, chicken, or beef,” Lee says. “We especially suggest this for its protein content. ” For a flavorful broth, strain wonton soup and sip only the broth. “You can save the solids — the dumplings and veggies — for another day,” says Dumaual.
Clear candy This includes clear sucking candy such as Life Savers and even clear gummy bears, says Dr. Greenwald. “Again, avoid anything red or purple because it can look like blood in the colon,” he says.
Lee says that even though gelatin isn’t really a liquid, Jell-O is great for your mental health because it makes you feel like you’re chewing on something. “It also makes you feel a little full and stays in your gut longer,” she warns. “But stay away from red or purple Jell-O.”
Popsicles “Anything that melts will work,” Greenwald says. “So popsicles and lemon ices are great choices — again avoid any with artificial red or purple coloring. ”.
By most accounts, the least favorite part of prep is drinking the colon cleanse your doctor has prescribed. Some tips from the pros are to chill the drink, mix it with clear liquids that are okay, drink it through a straw, and take sips of the prep between sips of something more enjoyable. In other words, whatever works for you.
And that’s it. In an ideal world, you’ll wake up from your surgery knowing that not only did you remove all of the polyps in your colon, but you also did a great job of cleaning it out.
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What can I eat or drink before colonoscopy?
FAQ
Is beef consommé considered a clear broth?
What kind of broth is ok before a colonoscopy?
What soups can you eat before a colonoscopy?
What kind of broth can you have on a clear liquid diet?
Can you go without food before a colonoscopy?
Some people, unfortunately, may avoid having a colonoscopy thinking that they can’t go without food for an entire day before the exam. But a clear liquid diet, such as the sample one described below, allows more food choices than you might think and can provide about 1,000 calories a day.
How to prepare for a colonoscopy?
Preparing for a colonoscopy involves clearing your colon for the procedure. Typically, you’ll need to follow a liquid-only diet the day before and take a prescribed laxative to empty your bowels. This ensures a clear view for the doctor. Follow your doctor’s instructions closely for the best results.
Can you eat soup before a colonoscopy?
Avoid cream-based or cheese soups, such as creamof broccoli or potato soup. Along with creamy soups, skip high-fiber tomato or vegetable soups that you can’t see through. Stick to completely clear, plain broth or stock. Canned or other soup that contains vegetables, meat, pasta, spices, or beans aren’t acceptable choices before your colonoscopy.
Can you drink coffee before a colonoscopy?
And Liquids to Try and Avoid Black coffee is one of the clear liquids allowed before your colonoscopy. It’s important to prepare for your colonoscopy the right way so your doctor has a clear view of your colon when they perform the exam.