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Also known as low fiber diet, the low residue diet is recommended to the patients suffering from diverticulitis and ulcerative colitis. Aiming at reducing the volume of stool in intestine, the low residue diet helps doctors conduct surgery apart from applying a radiation therapy on the pelvis and lower bowel. But in order to provide a strength and sustain-ability to the individuals, 10g of fibers are strictly recommended to the individuals as a lower residue diet. Preventing a bowling process of the intestine, the low residue diet prolongs the intestinal transit, a prerequisite to cope with IBD.

Though a phrase “low residue diet” looks similar to that of another term “low fiber diet”, it is different to some extent from the latter one. Low residue diet provides sufficient energy to the body without storing unnecessary residues in the bowel, while the low fiber diet increase the residues with additional fibers in the small intestine or stomach.

There are many fibrous diets which, though are low in residue, happen to be much higher in fibers like blenderized bran. The individuals, adhering to a low residue diet for a longer period of time, become too weak so the doctors or health experts recommend low residue diet to help the individual deal with physical weakness. White bread, buns, bagels, cheerios, corn-flakes, cream of wheat, arrowroot cookies, tea biscuits, soda crackers, plain Melba toast, white rice, refined pasta and noodles are recommended as the diet being much lower in residue and higher in energy.

Individuals opting for low residue diet should avoid consuming the whole grains because the grains being much higher in fiber have got to increase the volume of intestine and thus set off a boweling process.There are some specific fruits and fruit juices as well needed to be taken as a low residue diet by the individuals. Some fruits and fruit-juices, being much lower in fiber and residues, include applesauce, apricots, banana (1/2), cantaloupe, canned fruit cocktail, grapes, honeydew melon, peaches and watermelon. Individuals adhering to low residue diet should avoid berries, raw/dried fruits and raisins.

The vegetables being much lower in residue should be consumed as the good diet. Such vegetables include cooked alfalfa sprouts, beets, green beans, carrots, celery, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce, mushrooms, green/red peppers, squash and zucchini. Some vegetables like Broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels, sprouts, cabbage, kale, Swiss chard, belonging to cruciferous family should be avoided by the individuals in order to prevent stool from being formed inside their intestine.

Those preferring to eat meat can go for the cooked tender meat, fishes and eggs in order to meet a need of their diet being much lower in residue. But what is needed to be ignored by the individuals are the beans, nuts, seeds and lentils.

Foods being low in fiber and residue provide a physical stamina to the individual. Lets have look at the list of foods to be taken as a low residue diet.

• White bread.
• Refined pasta and cereals.
• White rice.
• Well-cooked vegetables(without skins).
• Fresh fruits(without peels and seeds).
• Well-cooked fruits.
• Tender and ground well cooked meat.
• Fish.
• Eggs.
• Poultry.
• Cheese.
• Ricotta, cottage cheese.
• Butter, mayonnaise, vegetable oils, margarine, plain gravies and dressings.
• Pulp free juices.
• Foods to be avoided in order to accomplish lower residues in diet.

Foods much higher in residue should be avoided. Following are foods which an individual should avoid.

• Whole grain breads and pastas.
• Corn bread.
• Strong cheeses.
• Yogurt.
• Raw vegetables.
• Tough meat.
• Crunchy peanut butter.
• Millet, buckwheat, flax and oatmeal.
• Dried beans, peas and legumes.
• Dried fruits, berries and fruits with skin or seeds.
• Chocolate with Cocoa Powder.
• Food with whole coconut.
• Juices with pulp.
• Spiced foods.
• Hot sauces.
• Caffeine.
• Popcorn.
• Nuts and Seeds.

There are some specific health conditions warranting the individual to opt for a low residue diet. Following are the conditions needed to be met through a low residue diet.

• 1st and 2nd stages of labor.
• Pre- and post- intestinal surgery.
• Inflammation in intestine or stomach.
• Crohn’s disease.
• Diverticulitis.
• Ulcerative colitis.
• Radiation therapy to the pelvis and lower bowel.
• Chemotherapy.
• Preparation for colonoscopy.