What To Eat After A Colonoscopy: Foods To Eat And Avoid - Healthline

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HealthlineSubscribeWhat to Eat After Colonoscopy

Medically reviewed by Kelsey Trull, PA-C — Written by Corey Whelan — Updated on December 7, 2024

Immediate nutrition
Foods to eat
Foods to avoid
Colon health tips
FAQ
Takeaway

In the hours immediately following a colonoscopy, a doctor may recommend that you eat sparingly or not at all. They may suggest a soft or liquid diet that’s low in residue.

A colonoscopy is a screening test used to help detect potential health problems in the colon, such as polyps, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and colorectal cancer.

It’s estimated that 34% of people experience symptoms like bloating, cramping, and changes in bowel movements for up to 2 days after a colonoscopy.

This could make eating and drinking feel challenging after the procedure, but you’ll most likely be dehydrated due to the preparations underwent for the colonoscopy.

As such, consuming a liquid diet and slowly incorporating soft foods that won’t irritate your colon could help you replenish your body with important fluids, vitamins, and electrolytes.

These dietary safeguards are typically required for 1 day only, but everyone is different.

Keep reading to learn more about what to eat after colonoscopy.

What is the best meal after a colonoscopy?

Very limited research has examined the best foods and drinks to consume after a colonoscopy compared to how best to prepare for the procedure.

However, healthcare organizations like the Veterans Health Library and the Richmond University Medical Center usually recommend consuming things that are gentle on your digestive system.

During the first few hours after colonoscopy, consider starting with a liquid diet to help avoid dehydration. This may include drinking water, electrolyte beverages, and clear-liquid foods like soups.

If these foods don’t irritate your colon, try following a soft, low residue diet.

This consists of a limited amount of dairy plus low fiber foods. This diet may help ease gastrointestinal activity because the foods are easy to digest and produce less stool.

Some meals to consider eating after a colonoscopy may include:

mashed potatoes and a skinless chicken breast
white toast and scrambled eggs
white rice and a piece of white fish

Other foods you can eat after a colonoscopy

Other foods and drinks to have the day after your colonoscopy may include:

fruit juice
vegetable juice
herbal tea
saltine crackers
graham crackers
soup
applesauce
tender, cooked vegetables
canned fruit, such as peaches
yogurt
Jello
popsicles
pudding
smooth nut butter

What not to eat after a colonoscopy

A colonoscopy only takes around 30 to 45 minutes, but your system may need a few hours to recuperate. This is partly due to the procedure itself, and partly due to the bowel prep you went through before it.

To aid healing, it’s beneficial to avoid foods that are hard to digest the day after. This may include anything that might irritate your bowels, such as spicy, greasy, and fried foods, as well as those high in fiber.

According to the Richmond University Medical Center, air is introduced into the colon during the procedure so that it can remain open. Because of this, you may expel more gas afterward than you normally do.

If so, you may wish to avoid carbonated beverages, which add more gas to your system.

Foods and drinks to avoid the day after your colonoscopy may include:

carbonated drinks, such as soda, alcohol, and sparkling water
steak, or any tough, hard-to-digest meat
whole grains, such as breads and crackers
raw vegetables
corn
legumes
brown rice
fruit with the skin on
dried fruit, such as raisins
coconut
spices, such as garlic, curry, and red pepper
highly seasoned foods
crunchy nut butter
popcorn
fried food
nuts

If you had a polyp removed (polypectomy), a doctor may recommend additional dietary guidelines.

Best practices for taking care of your colon

Your colon, also known as the large intestine or bowels, is a vital part of your digestive system.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that most people get a colorectal screening at least once every 10 years, starting at age 45 years, to check for signs of colon cancer.

Taking care of your colon requires more than just regular screenings. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the following lifestyle habits may help prevent colon cancer:

getting regular exercise
maintaining a healthy-for-you weight
quitting smoking, if you smoke
limiting alcohol, if you drink

The CDC also recommends eating a well-balanced diet, which may include:

eating whole grains, lean proteins, fruits and vegetables, and low fat dairy products
limiting animal fats

The National Cancer Institute suggests that 10% to 30% of people with colon cancer have family members with the disease, suggesting a genetic component.

Although you can’t change your genetics or your age, making some dietary and lifestyle changes could help you prevent modifiable risk factors.

Learn more about how to prevent colon cancer.

Frequently asked questions

Are you hungry right after a colonoscopy?

You may feel hungry after a colonoscopy because you most likely haven’t eaten food for at least 24 hours. That said, you may find it difficult to eat immediately due to symptoms like bloating, intestinal gas, and abdominal pain.

How long after a colonoscopy can you eat normally?

You can resume eating right after a colonoscopy, but it’s a good idea to introduce food slowly and begin with liquid foods.

What should I eat to restore my gut after a colonoscopy?

Over 3 in 10 people experience uncomfortable abdominal symptoms after a colonoscopy, which may be related to a disrupted gut microbiome. Some research suggests that probiotics may help restore your gut microbiome after a colonoscopy.

What is the fastest way to recover from a colonoscopy?

Most people recover quickly from a colonoscopy, but it’s important to follow all your doctor’s instructions. These may include avoiding any strenuous activity and taking a day off work before returning to your normal routine. If you experience any unusual symptoms, tell your doctor right away.

The bottom line

A colonoscopy can detect problems in your colon, such as polyps or cancer. The preparation for it is dehydrating, so drinking a lot of fluid after the procedure is important.

What you eat and drink after this procedure is also very important. Your doctor may recommend a restricted diet, such as just soft foods that require little digestion.

If you follow your doctor’s instructions, you should recover and resume eating normally within a day.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Colonoscopy fact sheet. (n.d.).https://doh.wa.gov/sites/default/files/legacy/Documents/8340//342-051-ColonFact-en-L.pdf
Colorectal cancer: Screening. (2021).https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/colorectal-cancer-screening
Genetics of colorectal cancer (PDQ®)–health professional version. (2024).https://www.cancer.gov/types/colorectal/hp/colorectal-genetics-pdq
Labenz J, et al. (2023). Application of a multispecies probiotic reduces gastro-intestinal discomfort and induces microbial changes after colonoscopy.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9870247/
Nutrition after surgery. (n.d.).https://www.veteranshealthlibrary.va.gov/RelatedItems/3,82500
Reducing risk for colorectal cancer. (2024).https://www.cdc.gov/colorectal-cancer/prevention/index.html
Sorathia AZ, et al. (2023). Low residue diet.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557693/
The best and worst foods to eat after a colonoscopy. (2022).https://www.rumcsi.org/news/the-best-and-worst-foods-to-eat-after-a-colonoscopy/
Waddingham W, et al. (2023). Complications of colonoscopy: Common and rare—recognition, assessment and management.https://bmjopengastro.bmj.com/content/10/1/e001193
What is a colonoscopy? Colonoscopy. (2022).https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/colonoscopy/

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Medically reviewed by Kelsey Trull, PA-C — Written by Corey Whelan — Updated on December 7, 2024

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