Can I Eat 24 Hours Before a Colonoscopy?

Before a colonoscopy, you should avoid solid foods for at least 24 hours.

Preparing for a colonoscopy can be a hassle. Your colon has to be as empty as possible so that your doctor can look for polyps and other signs of cancer. While it's an exam that most people dread, it's worth the effort involved.

Before a colonoscopy, you should avoid solid foods for at least 24 hours and stick to a clear liquid diet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Ask your doctor about what you can eat and when, as in some cases, you may be allowed to consume easily digestible foods up to 14-16 hours before the procedure if you are unable to fast for a long time.

Clear liquids you can have before a colonoscopy include:

• Water, including mineral water
• Soda
• Club soda
• Black coffee with no cream or milk
• Sports drinks with electrolytes
• Apple juice
• Tea without milk
• Honey
• Flavored gelatin
• Clear broth

Following a clear liquid diet means you should avoid eating any solid foods, including:

• Bread, grains, rice, or cereals
• Soups with chunks of food
• Meat
• Milk or dairy products
• Vegetables
• Fruits

Liquids to avoid include:

• Milkshakes
• Coffee with cream
• Pineapple juice
• Orange juice
• Milk or dairy drinks
• Alcohol

Plan ahead

Your doctor will give you instructions when scheduling your colonoscopy. Make sure to read them carefully and talk to your doctor if you have any questions.

Stock up on these items before the procedure:

• Low-fiber foods
• Sports drinks, juices, and broths
• Wet wipes
• Diaper cream
• A prescription or over-the-counter laxative specified by your doctor

Change your diet

Eating light foods 3-4 days before the procedure can help ease the colon-cleansing process. Low-fiber foods are generally recommended because they are easy to digest.

You can eat:

• White bread, pasta, and rice
• Well-cooked vegetables without skin
• Fruit without skin or seeds
• Lean meat, chicken, or fish
• Eggs

Do not eat:

• Seeds, nuts, or popcorn
• Fatty foods
• Tough meat
• Whole grains
• Raw vegetables
• Fruit with seeds or peel
• Corn, broccoli, cabbage, beans, or peas

Stop taking vitamins or other supplements at this point. If you are taking blood-thinning or other over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicines, make sure to ask your doctor about whether you should stop.

Fast for 24 hours

As discussed above, you should stop eating solid foods a full day before the procedure. Stick to only clear liquids.

Take laxatives

The night before your colonoscopy, you will need to take strong liquid laxatives, usually a half gallon, to clear your digestive tract. Six hours before the procedure, you will need to take another half-gallon of liquid laxative.

Since laxative solutions often have an unpleasant taste, you may want to mix yours with a flavored sports drink or powdered drink mix.

Once the laxatives start working, you will experience frequent, forceful diarrhea.

You may also experience:

• Cramping
• Bloating
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Stay calm

The purging process can be rough. Here are a few tips to make yourself as comfortable as you can:

• Stay in the bathroom and entertain yourself by reading a book or listening to music.
• Apply diaper cream before diarrhea starts.
• Use medicated wet wipes to clean yourself.

Once your bowels have been cleansed, your stool will look like urine or clear water. This means you've completed the process and your colon is ready for the colonoscopy.

While it's not easy, remember that the better you prepare, the faster the procedure will be, and you may not have to do it again for another 10 years.