Purpose Dietary fibre is the undigestible part of plants that maintains the structure of the plant. Dietary fibre includes cellulose, hemicelluloses, polysaccharides, pectin’s, gums, mucilage’s, and lignin’s. 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. Nutrition Facts
Depending upon individual food selection, the Low Fibre, Low Residue Diet is adequate in all nutrients (National Research Council's Recommended Dietary Allowance). 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 dietician or physician immediately. Food Groups Group Recommend Avoid 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, horseradish, relish
Sample Menu Breakfast Lunch Dinner * orange juice 1/2 cup * cornflakes 1 cup * poached egg * white toast 1 slice * margarine 1 tsp * jelly 1 Tbsp * skim milk 1 cup * coffee 3/4 cup * sugar 1 tsp * non-dairy creamer * salt/pepper * fish 3 oz * mashed potatoes 1/2 cup * cooked green beans 1/2 cup * white bread 1 slice * margarine 1 tsp * jelly 1 Tbsp * applesauce 1/2 cup * coffee 3/4 cup * sugar 1 tsp * non-dairy creamer * salt/pepper * chicken breast 3 oz * medium baked potato without skin * cooked carrots 1/2 cup * white bread 1 slice * margarine 1 tsp * jelly 1 Tbsp * canned peaches 1 /2 cup * skim milk 1/2 cup * coffee 3/4 cup * sugar 1 tsp * non-dairy creamer * salt/pepper
This Sample Diet Provides the Following Calories 1576 Fat 45 gm Protein 89 gm Sodium 2817 mg Carbohydrates 215 gm Potassium 3510 mg