Clear Liquid Diet for a Colonoscopy

Colon cancer screening is performed via a procedure known as a colonoscopy. This colonoscopy generally takes less than 1 hour to perform, sometimes as few as 30 minutes; however, it requires a complete cleansing of the colon first. This "cleansing" involves a strict period in which nothing is consumed during the preceding day besides a clear liquid diet, followed by nothing but water in the 8 hours before the test. Fortunately, there are many filling items that can be consumed in a clear liquid diet, including Jell-O.

Colonoscopy Explained

Small clumps of cells known as polyps can form in the colon within our digestive system. If these polyps are detected early enough, steps can be taken to remove them, preventing them from potentially turning cancerous. The colonoscopy procedure provides your physician with the ability to see every inch of your colon and to remove any polyps found in it.
This procedure consists of a colonoscope being inserted into your rectum while you are sedated. The colonoscope, which has a tiny camera on its tip, is a tube that is flexible and long enough to allow for the physician to thread it through your entire colon.

Clear Liquid Diet Importance

For the doctor to be able to see any polyps or other abnormalities that may be occurring in the colon during the colonoscopy procedure, there must not be any food in the colon. Therefore, only a clear liquid diet can be consumed the day before the scheduled procedure. In fact, if any food remains in the colon prior to the colonoscopy, the physician will likely order an enema to be administered to rid the colon of remaining particles.

Clear Liquid Diet Ingredients

There are some obvious clear liquids that can be consumed prior to a colonoscopy: water and Sprite, for example. But other liquids are acceptable, too--apple juice, green tea and chicken broth. And, surprisingly to some, even dark brown liquids (as in beef broth and coffee) are counted as "clear liquids" for the purposes of this test.

Liquid Diet Color Warning

Two colors absolutely forbidden to be consumed the day before this test are red and purple. Both have the potential of appearing as blood in the colon during testing, as that dye color can stain as it goes through the system.

Liquid Diet Foods

For those individuals who have to have that feeling of eating something rather than drinking a liquid, there is always Jell-O, just not in red or purple.