Low-Fiber Diet: Foods and Meals to Stall Digestion

Medically reviewed by Melissa Nieves, LND

While a high-fiber diet is usually recommended for most people, there are some cases in which a low-fiber diet may be necessary.

A diet lower in fiber might be tried before having a colonoscopy, for diverticulitis, during a flare-up of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD, Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis), for constipation, or other conditions. The recommendation is usually temporary until the procedure is over or the condition improves.

This article will discuss the long- and short-term circumstances under which a low-fiber diet might be recommended.

Low-Fiber Food List and Diet Guidance

Fiber is found in plant-based foods (fruits and vegetables). It is not digested by the body. It works to give stool bulk and to move it through the intestines easily. A diet higher in fiber is usually recommended for most people. However, low-fiber foods may be necessary for certain conditions, usually for a limited amount of time.

Duration

How long you need to be on a low-fiber diet is going to be based on the reason why it is recommended. The healthcare provider that recommended the diet should give some guidelines.

In some cases, higher-fiber foods will be added back into the eating plan slowly. If symptoms return or new symptoms start (such as abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, or constipation) there may be a need to slow down adding fiber.

What to Eat

Compliant Foods

• Applesauce

• Bananas

• Canned potatoes, carrots, green beans, and peaches
  

• Cereal, bread, biscuits, pancakes, waffles, bagels, and crackers made from refined wheat or rye flour
  

• Creamy peanut butter and other nut butters
  

• Dairy products, when tolerated, such as plain yogurt, milk, ice cream, and cheeses
  

• Eggs

• Fruit and vegetable juice (no pulp)
  

• Meats such as fish and poultry, ham, bacon, shellfish, and deli meat
  

• Melons (watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew)
  

• Tofu

• White rice and pasta
  

Noncompliant Foods

• Beans, including baked and lima, peas, and lentils

• Bran
  

• Brown and wild rice

• Chunky peanut butter
  

• Coconut

• Cornbread and cornmeal
  

• Granola

• Meat with gristle
  

• Nuts, seeds, and dried fruit

• Popcorn and potato chips

• Quinoa
  

• Wheat germ

• Whole grains

Limiting Fiber Throughout the Day

Understanding which foods have lower amounts of fiber can be challenging. Fiber is found in fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains. Reading nutrition labels can help.

For a low-fiber diet, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center recommends choosing foods that have less than 2 grams (g) of fiber per serving and eating less than 3 g of fiber per meal. They also recommend trying to eat less than 10 g of fiber a day.

Related: How to Choose the Best Nut Butter for You

Cooking Tips

Foods such as meats and vegetables should be well cooked and tender. Various cooking methods can be used to make sure foods are cooked well, including baking, braising, microwaving, poaching, simmering, steaming, and stewing.

Modifications

It might be challenging to meet nutritional needs while eating a low-fiber diet. It may be difficult to get enough vitamins and minerals. Every person has unique nutritional needs.

If this diet is going to be followed longer than a few days, it may be helpful to work with a dietitian to learn how to modify an eating plan or if any vitamin supplements are needed.

Fiber works to make stool bulkier and help it move smoothly through the intestines. Without enough fiber, there could be a change in bowel habits (such as diarrhea or constipation). Drinking more fluids, especially water, may be recommended while cutting back on fiber.

Benefits of Eating Low-Fiber Diet Foods

The reasons for needing a low-fiber diet and how it offers benefits are going to be different based on the condition.

Colonoscopy Prep

The purpose of a colonoscopy prep is to remove all the stool from the large intestine. This is so that a healthcare provider can view inside the colon during the procedure and take biopsies (tissue samples to be analyzed in a lab) without any fecal matter being in the way.

A low- or lower-fiber diet may be recommended starting anywhere from one week to three days prior to the colonoscopy. A healthcare provider will give detailed instructions on how to eat and prepare for the test.

One study showed that people recommended a low-fiber diet prior to a colonoscopy often still ate high-fiber foods. Vegetables containing a lot of fiber were the most commonly eaten high-fiber foods among study participants.

Constipation

In many cases, people who live with constipation may be told to eat more fiber. That recommendation depends on the reason for having constipation, such as not getting enough fluids or high-fiber foods.

However, it is possible to eat too much fiber, which can cause digestive symptoms such as bloating and constipation. For people who are eating a high-fiber diet already and are constipated, adding more fiber may not be the solution. Some people may find this out through trial and error.

Reducing fiber intake for a time may be recommended by a healthcare professional for constipation that's associated with a high-fiber diet.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

The connection between IBS and diet is complicated. The foods that affect people with IBS vary by individual.

In general, eating more fiber is recommended for people with IBS. However, at times a healthcare provider may recommend a lower-fiber diet to deal with symptoms such as bloating.

A diet low in FODMAPs (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols) might be recommended. In this diet, foods higher in FODMAPs are avoided.

FODMAPs aren’t always abundant in high-fiber foods and lacking in low-fiber foods, but some high-fiber foods are also high in FODMAPs. It can be challenging to include enough fiber and also avoid food containing FODMAPs that may cause more symptoms. A healthcare provider can advise you on how to undertake a low-FODMAP eating plan while also getting enough fiber.

Learn More: What to Eat When You Have Irritable Bowel Syndrome

IBD

For IBD that is not active, meaning there are no symptoms and/or inflammation in the digestive system, a high-fiber eating plan or a plant-based eating plan might be recommended. The goal would be to lower the amount of foods from a typical Western diet, such as those that are highly processed and low in fiber.

During a flare-up, when inflammation increases, a lower-fiber diet may be recommended. When the inflammation is better controlled, it’s recommended that people with IBD try to incorporate more fiber into their diet.

It can be challenging to add more fiber, so it’s recommended that people work with a healthcare provider who can provide guidance.

Diverticular Disease

Pouches called diverticula that form in the colon are a sign of diverticular disease. People with this condition often are advised to eat a diet high in fiber.

Most of the time, these bulges don’t cause a problem, but they can get inflamed and cause symptoms, which leads to a condition called diverticulitis. In the case of diverticulitis, a low-fiber diet may be recommended as part of treatment for a few days.

Adding fiber back into the diet after a bout of diverticulitis takes place slowly, as tolerated. The goal will be to get back to a regular diet in time, which is meant to minimize abdominal pain and other gastrointestinal symptoms.

Intestinal Strictures

A narrowing (stricture) in the small or large intestine from scar tissue or inflammation can lead to a blockage. For those who are susceptible to strictures, fibrous foods may cause symptoms such as pain, so a lower-fiber diet may be recommended.

In addition, changing the particle size of some foods with fiber may help. You can do this by blending them up (such as in a smoothie) or cooking them well.

Learn More: Foods to Avoid If You Have a Stricture

Gastroparesis

In this condition, the stomach and intestines do not work as well to move food through. A low-fiber diet may be recommended for a short time or for the long term. Gastroparesis requires specialized treatment. A team of healthcare providers will give support and guidance on an eating plan.

Learn More: Gastroparesis Diet: What to Eat and What to Avoid

Before or After Surgery

In the days before and after digestive tract surgery, your healthcare may recommend a low-fiber diet to prevent a buildup of stool before surgery and to allow the digestive system to heal faster afterward. Your provider will discuss your need for a low-fiber diet before the procedure.

Learn More: What to Eat After Surgery and What to Avoid

Low-Residue Diet

A low-residue diet is not the same as a low-fiber diet. They are similar in that both diets limit fiber. However, a low-residue diet also excludes any foods that may have a laxative effect, helping you empty your bowels. This can include prunes and prune juice and foods and beverages that contain caffeine.

It's important to work with a healthcare provider to help you avoid foods that are not allowed on a low-residue diet.

Low Fiber Considerations and Dietary Restrictions

Eating plans can be complicated. They need to take not only health conditions under consideration, but also personal taste and cultural practices around food.

It’s not always easy to understand what is allowed on a low-fiber diet and what is not. Your treating providers are going to be the best source of information regarding your need for a low-fiber diet.

People needing a low-fiber diet long term may wish to look into patient groups that can help provide recipes or suggestions on diet. It’s also important to check in with healthcare providers regularly to monitor for any vitamin deficiencies or whether it’s safe to add back foods higher in fiber.

Low-Fiber vs. Carnivore Diet

The carnivore diet focuses on eliminating fruits and vegetables and eating more foods that are high in protein, usually from animal sources. The purpose is different from a low-fiber diet.

The carnivore diet may be low in fiber because many sources of dietary fiber are not allowed. Some fruits and vegetables that are easier to digest and contain lower amounts of fiber are allowed on the low-fiber diet.

Long-Term Effects of Low-Fiber Diet

For most people, a low-fiber diet isn’t recommended for the long term. Most adults in the United States do not get the recommended amount of fiber in their diet. A diet high in fiber is more supportive of overall health.

Eating a higher-fiber diet is associated with:

• A more balanced gut microbiome (the balance of microbes that live in the gut)

• A reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease
  

• A reduced risk of constipation

• A reduced risk of certain cancers, including colon cancer

• Maintaining a healthy weight

Summary

A low-fiber diet is recommended to treat certain conditions or prior to a test or a procedure. There are conditions in which a low-fiber diet may be recommended for long-term use by a healthcare provider. But in many cases, increasing fiber in the diet is important to ensure that enough vitamins and minerals are being taken in.

Additionally, eating a diet high in fiber may decrease the risk of developing other conditions. Working with a healthcare provider to understand fiber needs and when and how to decrease or increase fiber intake is important, especially if a low-fiber diet is needed on a long-term basis.

Read the original article on Verywell Health.