A Low-Residue Diet for Colitis

What to Avoid on a Low-Residue Diet

A low-residue diet limits the amount of indigestible or hard-to-digest fiber and foods to reduce the amount of residue that enters the large intestine. Low-residue diets can be restrictive and should be followed in moderation and only when the patient is experiencing a colitis flare.

“Elimination diets don’t work,” says Rubin. “People can avoid certain foods when they are actively flaring, but not chronically. The goal is to provide a healthy and enjoyable quality of life for patients.”

Rubin urges people to work with their physicians to make sure they receive the nutrition their bodies need while at the same time eliminating foods that make the bowel work harder, such as:

• Beans and legumes
• Whole grains
• Most raw fruits and vegetables
• Nuts, seeds, dried fruits, and other foods with hulls, like corn

Low-residue diets also caution against other foods that contribute to stool weight such as meat and dairy products, according to research. You’ll also want to skip fatty, spicy, and sugary foods.

What to Eat on a Low-Residue Diet

Put together low-residue meals from these groups:

Cooked Vegetables You can include spinach, pumpkin, eggplant, skinless potatoes, green beans, wax beans, asparagus, beets, carrots, and yellow squash (without seeds) as long as they are thoroughly cooked or canned. You can also drink juices made from these vegetables.

Refined Grains You can have white bread and dry cereals containing less than 1 gram of fiber per serving (such as puffed rice, corn flakes, and others) on a low-residue diet.

Very Ripe Fruits Apricots, bananas, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, papayas, peaches, plums, watermelon, and nectarines are okay to eat on a low-residue diet. You can include juices without pulp and fruit sauces like applesauce, but avoid all other raw fruits.

Lean Protein Boneless fish, chicken, and eggs are all good sources of lean protein.

Before starting a low-residue diet, talk to your doctor or registered dietitian about whether you may need a supplement to meet all your vitamin and mineral requirements, both while you’re on the diet and on other days.