Clear Liquid Diet
By going on a clear liquid diet, patients whose solid food intake must be temporarily halted can still maintain healthy levels of body fluid, salt, and mineral as well energy. The body quickly and easily absorbs clear liquids, which stimulate the digestive system to a lesser degree and do not leave residue in the intestinal tract. No wonder doctors prescribe this type of diet prior to surgery and order the same as the first food taken orally immediately after surgery. People who have not taken food by mouth for a long time are also fed clear liquids. Physicians also recommend a clear liquid diet for colonoscopy and in preparation for various medical exams and procedures such as sigmoidoscopy and certain x-rays.
A liquid diet such as a clear liquid diet usually does not provide the appropriate amounts of calories and nutrients. Experts warn against using it for more than five days, especially if there are no high-protein or low-residue supplements taken with it.
Special Considerations for a Clear Liquid Diet
Make sure to faithfully follow specific directions as doctors limit or reduce a patient’s intake of certain liquids based on the latter’s condition or the medical procedure being performed..
To help you determine what you can take, remember that any fluid you can see through can be included in clear liquid diets. While apple juice is clear, milk is not. Plain water, fruit juices without pulp, soup broth, clear sodas, gelatin, popsicles that do not have bits of fruit or fruit pulp, tea or coffee with no cream or milk added, and sports drinks are among the best clear liquid diet ideas and clear liquid diet foods.
A good start would be to combine three to five of these food items for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. For even better results, do not consume foods that were not mentioned above, such as fruit nectars and canned or frozen fruit.
Some patients on this kind of diet after surgery have reported persistent abdominal cramps or discomfort. Should this happen, immediately notify the physician, nurse or dietitian.
A completely clean digestive tract is among the contributing factors to a successful and reliable medical exam or procedure. It is therefore a must to strictly follow the prescribed clear liquid diet in preparation for a medical test or surgery.
Categories : Uncategorized ,