{"id":53945,"date":"2022-09-14T09:30:11","date_gmt":"2022-09-14T13:30:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=53945"},"modified":"2026-04-21T09:15:26","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T13:15:26","slug":"low-residue-diet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/low-residue-diet\/","title":{"rendered":"Your guide to a low-residue diet"},"content":{"rendered":"

A diet low in residue, called the low-residue diet (similar to a low-fiber diet), is often used to manage certain diseases of the gastrointestinal system. It is made up of gut-friendly foods known to reduce digestive symptoms like abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, and altered bowel habits. The low-residue diet is part of the therapy for those with short gut syndrome, certain patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), acute diverticulitis, gastroparesis (slow stomach emptying) and bowel narrowing or obstruction. It is also a diagnostic diet recommended before a colonoscopy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is a low-residue diet?<\/b><\/h2>\n

A low-residue diet is an eating plan that limits or eliminates certain foods known to trigger gastrointestinal distress. \u201cIt is usually recommended when there is an inflammatory or obstructive process in the colon or small intestine that would impede the passage of more fibrous nutrients, risking a bowel obstruction,\u201d says Joseph D. Pianka, MD, a board-certified gastroenterologist in Rhode Island. Consequently, the diet emphasizes easy-to-digest foods while restricting indigestible food materials\u2014because they increase the volume and amount of stool produced by the digestive tract.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Additionally, a low-residue diet aims to reduce the food waste that builds up in your large intestine to form \u201cresidues.\u201d A residue comprises undigested foods, gut microorganisms, and other intestinal secretions that remain after digestion and contribute to the bulk of your poop.<\/span><\/p>\n

The low-residue diet is a therapeutic diet designed to help people with gastrointestinal conditions\u2014such as <\/span>ulcerative colitis<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Crohn\u2019s disease<\/span><\/a> (together termed inflammatory bowel disease), bowel inflammation, <\/span>diverticulitis<\/span><\/a>, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)\u2014and patients who cannot tolerate foods high in fiber. It helps to limit bowel movement, frequency of defecation, and overall stool bulk. A <\/span>gastroenterologist may recommend<\/span><\/a> a low-residue diet before a colonoscopy or colorectal surgery for bowel preparation (cleansing the intestine of fecal materials) and post-operation to hasten a patient\u2019s recovery.<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>IBD vs. IBS<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

How does the low-residue diet work?<\/span><\/h3>\n

When digestive issues flare up, consuming low-residue foods may be necessary to provide symptomatic relief. Typically, the low-residue diet works by eliminating foods believed to produce high amounts of residues\/undigested fiber that trigger gastrointestinal flare-ups.<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are restricted because of the fiber content, as fiber produces high amounts of residues. A <\/span>study<\/span><\/a> published in the <\/span>World Journal of Gastroenterology<\/span><\/i> showed that reducing fiber intake improved conditions of people with chronic constipation. Fiber increases the bulk of feces, so eliminating high-fiber foods from their diet relieved the patients by reducing the size and volume of stool\u2014so the patients could pass smaller, thinner stools. It should be noted, however, that many gastroenterologists recommend starting treatment with a <\/span>high<\/span><\/i>-fiber diet in patients with constipation.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is why a low-residue diet consists of predominantly low-fiber foods. A maximum of 10 g of fiber per day is the recommended intake for this diet, which stands in contrast to the <\/span>dietary fiber recommendation<\/span><\/a> of 30-35 g per day for men and 25-32 g per day for women.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Unlike a strictly low-fiber diet that only restricts fiber intake, a low-residue diet limits fiber and <\/span>dairy<\/span><\/a>. (Milk and its products also contribute to the buildup of residue.)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe diet is usually implemented for less than a week, depending on the clinical situation,\u201d <\/span>Dr. Pianka<\/span><\/a> says. \u201cA good rule of thumb is to continue the diet until symptoms improve, and then gradually add fiber content as tolerated.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

However, the duration can be longer for certain conditions. \u201cLow-fiber diets may be long-term diet plans in those that suffer from chronic illnesses that do not allow them to tolerate daily dietary fiber intake,\u201d says <\/span>Michelle Pearlman<\/span><\/a>, MD, a gastroenterologist based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to <\/span>Ronen Arai<\/span><\/a>, MD, a gastroenterologist with Gastro Health, the diet could also be used long-term in people who have a small intestinal narrowing or chronic narrowing of the bowels.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, you should only follow a low-residue diet under the supervision of your healthcare provider. This is important because it is an elimination diet\u2014and you may be at risk of nutritional deficiencies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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