Having an endoscopy scheduled anytime soon? One of the many questions that will arise in your mind will be what to eat before endoscopy?
If you have your endoscopy planned, you must only consume clear liquids for breakfast, such as water, apple juice, black coffee, black tea, or broth. Then you must start fasting. You should refrain from eating or drinking anything at least 6 hours before your examination.
In order for you to get the best results from endoscopy, your stomach must be completely empty. Food particles present in the stomach might cause potentially serious problems. They also raise the risk of choking during the evaluation.
As a result, it is critical that you carefully follow the dietary guidelines provided in this article.
What to Eat Before Endoscopy?
It is important to understand what to eat before endoscopy so you can prepare foods ahead of the procedure.
On the day before the endoscopy, you can eat solid food until midnight. After midnight, you can only drink clear liquids. You must stop drinking even clear fluids before 6 hours of the procedure.
Clear liquids that are allowed to drink are:
- Water
- Coconut water
- Gatorade
- Pedialyte or Powerade
- Coffee or tea (no milk or non-dairy creamer)
- Carbonated and non-carbonated soft drinks
- Kool-Aid or other fruit-flavored drinks
- Apple juice, White cranberry, or White grape juice
- Jell-O
- Popsicles
- Clear Broth
- Hard Candies
An empty stomach is required for a safe and thorough inspection; therefore, you should refrain from eating or drinking anything, including water, for around 6 hours before the procedure. This includes chewing gum and sweets.
On the other hand, having a sip of water with your normal medicines is OK.
Preparing for An Endoscopy
I understand how frightening preparing for endoscopy maybe for people at this time. My goal is to make this procedure as easy as it can be for you. Here are a few pointers to assist you in preparing for an endoscopy:
7 Days Before Your Procedure
- Stop taking any multivitamins or supplements 7 days prior to the endoscopic procedure.
- Avoid nuts and seeds
- Avoid alcohol
1 Day Before Your Procedure
- Stop consuming all solid foods before midnight on the day of examination.
- Clear liquid fluids are recommended after midnight. Avoid consuming any red or purple drinks.
- Do not consume any alcoholic beverages the day before or the day of the endoscopy.
The Day of Your Endoscopic Procedure
For a morning endoscopy:
- After midnight, you are not allowed to have any solid foods if your endoscopy is scheduled early in the morning.
- You are permitted to consume some clear drink such as water or apple juice along with any necessary medications up to 6 hours before your scheduled procedure.
- Before 6 hours of your procedure, no chewing gum, ice, or sweets are permitted.
For an afternoon endoscopy:
- You can have a light breakfast before 7 am if your endoscopy is scheduled in the afternoon.
- You can take your usual medications in the morning.
- Fluids that are clear in colors, such as water or apple juice, can be taken up to 4-6 hours before the scheduled endoscopy.
Clear Liquid Foods to Eat Before Endoscopy
A clear liquid diet is made of the majority of liquids that are easily visible through, such as water, broth, and plain gelatin. When consumed at body temperature, they are liquid and readily digested, and they leave no trace in the digestive tract.
In a procedure like an endoscopy, where solid food is not feasible to eat before the procedure, a clear liquid diet can assist in maintaining appropriate hydration. It also provides essential electrolytes such as salt and potassium. It can also offer some energy needed to prepare or recover from any surgical treatment.
Clear liquids that are recommended before endoscopy are listed below:
- Gummy bears
- Flavored gelatin or Jell-O (without fruit)
- Sports drinks that are crystal clear (Gatorade, Powerade, Propel)
- Pedialyte
- Juices that are clear (such as apple or white grape)
- A cup of coffee or tea (without cream or milk)
- Water (plain, seltzer, sparkling, or flavored)
- Coconut water
- Carbonated beverages
- Italian ice
- Popsicles or ice pops, and other frozen treats (no pureed fruit or fiber, no sherbet or gelato)
- Kool-Aid or other flavored drinks
To assist you in getting through the prep time of endoscopy, glasses of water, hard candies, lollipops, and menthol cough drops can come in handy.
You must follow a clear liquid diet up until 6 hours of endoscopy procedure. Do not drink anything that is not transparent. You can not drink anything that contains pulp, and you need to chew it in order to swallow it.
Smoothies, blended fruit, and vegetable beverages are not permitted at all. During the fasting period, no dairy products or non-dairy products such as almond milk, rice milk, or soymilk are permitted.
What Can You Eat the Day Before an Endoscopy?
Eat as much as you like or whatever you like the day before your endoscopy. You must keep the last meal very light to avoid any stomach distress.
However, you should refrain from eating or drinking anything for 6-8 hours prior to the procedure’s scheduled start time.
What Is A Light Breakfast Before Endoscopy?
A light breakfast may comprise 1 egg, cereal, or a slice of bread. Consuming fatty foods such as bacon or sausage is not advised.
A light breakfast before endoscopy means that you do not overeat.
Light breakfast consists of the following items:
- Clear liquids (explained above)
- Toast or bread with a little bit of butter or jam on it
- Applesauce
- Crackers
- Boiled Pasta
- Eggs
If you have your endoscopy scheduled in the afternoon, then you must have a light breakfast the morning before your examination.
You can eat cereal, toast, juice, coffee, tea, or soda. At the very least, you should have this meal 6-8 hours before your scheduled visit. Do not consume any liquids six hours before your procedure.
Why No Alcohol Before Endoscopy?
Generally, anesthesia and pain-relieving medicines are given before endoscopy. The use of strong medicines to inhibit processes such as breathing, heart rate, and blood circulation is used in general anesthesia. The same bodily systems are affected by alcohol.
All of these chemicals must be processed in the liver, which may be overburdened. Furthermore, both anesthetic medicines and alcohol might result in nausea and vomiting.
This may raise your chances of aspiration (inhaling vomit) during the endoscopic procedure, which can be dangerous or can prove fatal sometimes.
Also Read: What to Eat After Endoscopy?
Bottom Line
To have a better understanding of your upper digestive tract, your doctor suggests endoscopy. It is necessary to prepare well for an important examination such as this one.
It is critical to plan ahead of time for endoscopy to guarantee that the procedure goes successfully.
You must refrain from eating or drinking before your examination. It is important to follow the above-mentioned dietary recommendations to ensure an effective and successful examination.
Having food or fluids in the stomach during the endoscopy procedure might be fatal. If you vomit, it is possible that the liquids will enter your lungs and cause a blockage. You must notify the nurse if you forget and eat or drink something before your procedure so that she can reschedule your appointment.
If you have any queries that you have in mind, please leave them in the comments section below. I would love to assist you in every possible manner.
A nutrition degree holder and a foodie by heart, Madiha Saad loves to inspire people through her writings and uses her knowledge and experience to write articles on trending nutrition topics. She loves to develop new recipes in her pastime. Read More…
I have gastroparesis. What should I eat and drink. The texture of blended meat make me gag and throw up even more. I love vegetables, raw salads, and fruits. I can not do blended salads. I also drink lots of fluids… I don’t consume alcohol. I do smoke tobacco cigarettes. 1/2 ok to whole pk aday. Your help would be greatly appreciated and very valuable. I use to be 420 pounds and lost 220 pounds but recently I have gained 30 to 40 pounds after a flare up and being hospitalized. I also am diabetic and take 2 different insulins. I was told I have a tumor in my stomach and they are studying what my next steps are. Hope to hear from you soon.
Here are few tips which can help relieve symptoms of Gastroparesis:
• Drink enough fluids to prevent dehydration (8-10 glasses).
• If you can’t tolerate blended meat, try to chew your food well (atleast 32 times each bite) or you can look up for traditional recipes that uses thinned or blended meat so, you can enjoy your food.
• You can take meat substitutes like eggs and egg whites, reduced-fat creamy peanut butter, or powdered peanuts.
• As far your sald intake is concerned, you can use tomato juice, smooth tomato sauce or puree, well-cooked vegetables without skins (acorn squash, beets, carrots, mushrooms, potatoes, spinach, summer squash, strained tomato sauce, yams), leeks, onions, roasted skinless peppers, well-cooked and mashed cauliflower, asparagus tips, finely chopped onion, mashed avocado, pureed dry beans as tolerated. Again look up for yummy recipes so you can enjoy your meal time.
• Eat small, frequent meals (5-6 per day).
• Eat nutritious foods first before filling up on snacks or empty calories like desserts
• Avoid all high fat, fried or greasy foods.
• Eat less fibrous diet.
• Do not lay down immediately after taking a meal. Take few steps (30-40 steps) after each meal.
• Keep your sugar level under control.
• Do exercise as it helps in stomach emptying and might improve symptoms.
i ate pizza the day before my endoscopy. is that dangerous.
It’s okay. What’s done is done. If you have eaten a pizza before 8-10 hours of your procedure then you will be fine. Otherwise, you can talk to your doctor about rescheduling your appointment.
The reason behind not eating any solids few hours before endoscopy procedure is that a person suffers from aspiration if any kind of fluid or food enters the lungs. If you consume any food or liquid before the surgery, you run the risk of this happening. If you want to avoid this issue, it is essential to ensure that you follow with the recommendations on fasting that were made by your physician.
I’m a nigerian I have my endoscopy schedule for tomorrow. I’ve only taken custard and I’m very hungry right now and I’m also breastfeeding..pls what can I eat
Hi,
I have stated clear liquid diet above which you can take before your procedure. If you have your endoscopy scheduled for early morning then you must follow a clear liquid diet up until 6 hours of endoscopy procedure. Do not drink anything that is not transparent. You can not drink anything that contains pulp, and you need to chew it in order to swallow it.
To assist you in getting through the prep time of endoscopy, glasses of water, hard candies, clear apple juice, lollipops, and menthol cough drops can come in handy.
I hope you get through the procedure easily following above instructions.
Because I have an extra long colon and slow transition they have said I need to fast for 24 hours and then another 8 hours of no food or drink. What sort of meal would be best to have the time before that will digest quickly
Thankyou
If you need to fast for 24 hours and then have an additional 8 hours of no food or drink, it’s important to choose a meal that is easy to digest and won’t stay in your system for too long. Here are some options:
Clear broth or bouillon: This is a low-fat, low-fiber option that will be easy on your digestive system. It will also help keep you hydrated.
Plain toast or crackers: These low-fiber options are easy to digest and can help settle your stomach if you’re feeling nauseous.
Clear liquids: Water, clear fruit juices, and sports drinks can help keep you hydrated and provide some energy.
It’s important to avoid high-fat, high-fiber, or spicy foods, as they can be more difficult to digest and may cause discomfort during the fasting period. Additionally, it’s important to follow any specific dietary instructions provided by your healthcare provider.
Hi, My colonoscopy is scheduled 2.30 afternoon. What I must eat before colonscopy and endoscopy, and how many hours I must stop eating and drinking. I am 81 years, I afraid maybe I feel weakness. I am diabetic. Can u suggest me. Mohammad
Please reply at your earliest.
Thank you.
M.Khan
London
If you have a colonoscopy and endoscopy scheduled for 2:30 pm in the afternoon, it is likely that you will need to fast for a certain period of time prior to the procedure.
Here are some general guidelines that may be helpful:
Avoid solid foods: Stop consuming all solid foods before midnight and follow a clear liquid diet. This can include water, clear broth, tea, coffee, sports drinks, and clear fruit juices (without pulp). Avoid any drinks that are red or purple in color, as they can be mistaken for blood during the procedure.
Medications: Your doctor will provide you with specific instructions about which medications to stop taking and when to stop taking them. It’s important to follow these instructions carefully, especially if you are diabetic.
Fasting period: You may need to fast for at least 6 hours before the procedure, or possibly longer depending on your doctor’s instructions.
Diabetes management: If you are diabetic, it’s important to work with your doctor to manage your blood sugar levels during the fasting period. You may need to adjust your insulin or other medications, and monitor your blood sugar levels more frequently.