Transitioning to a Regular Diet from a Low or Minimal Fiber Diet

Certain medical conditions require a person to restrict their fiber intake, including Chron’s Disease, Small Bowel Obstruction (SBO), and acute diverticulitis. Your medical adviser may also recommend a Low-Fiber Diet if there is a narrowing of the bowel due to a tumor or an inflammatory disease; after bowel surgery, or when treatment, such as radiation, damages or irritates the gastrointestinal tract. As part of the transition process, following a Low-Fiber Diet plan is crucial to the recovery process. 

Here are some guidelines to follow when transitioning to a regular diet.

Gluten-Free Whole Grains

Many of our patients find gluten-free foods to be very beneficial to their diets. Eating a breakfast of whole grains in the mornings provides fuel throughout the day, regulates blood sugar, and is a great beginning for many people. Try starting each day with one serving of these grains: amaranth, brown rice, millet, or quinoa, mixed with olive oil, Himalayan salt, and avocado. ¹/ ³ to ½ cup of the grain is one serving.

Download the entire printable version of the Digestive Health Guide for free.  Inside you will find tips on stool softeners, recipes and more.

Leafy Green Vegetables

One of the most alkalizing foods available, it is well worth your investment in acquiring a taste for green leafy vegetables. Stir-fry greens well with a little olive oil and garlic.

Choose from the following: collard, dandelion, kale, mustard, sorrel, Swiss chard.

Caffeine

Caffeine is a gastrointestinal (GI) irritant that can cause GI upset or diarrhea. Try to limit or omit these from your diet: coffee and decaffeinated coffee, iced tea, green tea and other teas containing caffeine, chocolate drinks, any energy drinks with caffeine or stimulants, and mate.

Produce

• Frozen Vegetables. Frozen vegetables can actually be more nutrient-rich than their fresh counterparts. Vegetables are frozen as soon as they are picked rather than being trucked many miles and then left to sit on store shelves. A good variety of organic frozen vegetables is essential for anyone who wants to make healthy and tasty meals in ten minutes (including preparation, cooking, and cleanup). Good frozen vegetables include Asparagus, butternut squash, broccoli/cauliflower mix, and chopped spinach. Chopped spinach lends a creamy, cheesy-like texture to the vegetables.
• Avocado. Men may eat up to 1 whole avocado per day; women may eat ½ avocado per day.
• Beets and Bananas. It is important to have both beets and bananas on hand for bowel elimination. Beets thin gall bladder bile while cleaning the liver and intestinal tract. Steamed and eaten in the evening, they will often ensure healthy elimination the next morning. Conversely, bananas are helpful in slow elimination.