Low Residue Diet

Fiber is necessary to help aid in the body's digestive processes. However, in some cases, it becomes necessary to restrict fiber in the body. Similar to a low-fiber diet, the Low Residue Diet consists of foods that can be easily digested and absorbed by the digestive system. This limits the amount of residue left over in the intestinal tract (hence the name) as well as the amount of stool. This is a diet often recommended for those who have such medical disorders in which fiber should be restricted, such as inflammatory conditions like Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Chron's Disease, as well as for people who are recovering from bowel surgery.

The Low Residue Diet is often recommended for cancer patients receiving radiation treatment, as one side effect of the treatment is diarrhea. The Low Residue Diet reduces the amount of stool in the lower bowel, thereby reducing the side effect.

A low-residue diet is anything considered less than 10 grams of fiber per day. This helps to decrease bowel volume. Generally speaking, the Low Residue Diet is designed more for reducing health problems through eating and avoiding certain foods rather than as an actual weight-loss tool.

Review
We've rated the Low Residue Diet on a scale of 1-5, one being the lowest and 5 being the highest, based on a number of considerations.

Health - 4. The Low Residue Diet provides an adequate amount of nutrition and most of the foods are high in antioxidants and healthy nutrients. However, if you plan on being on it long-term, your doctor may have you take calcium supplements or liquid nutrition supplements, as the diet limits raw vegetables and limits milk consumption.

Cost - 2. The Low Residue Diet is not terribly expensive, although some of the vegetables on the recommended foods list are expensive if not purchased frozen.

Ease of Implementation - 4. This diet is quick and requires no special tools to start. For the most part, you will probably have most of the food needed already in your cupboards and in the fridge.

Ease of Adherence - 4. The Low Residue Diet is fairly easy to adhere to, as it doesn't really limit a lot of food. People who like raw vegetables, a lot of dairy, and whole grains, however, may have a hard time adhering to the diet. In addition, because following the diet reduces health problems and helps people who suffer from certain conditions feel better, it should be easy to adhere to.

Long-term potential - 2. The diet limits raw vegetables and limits milk consumption. If you plan on being on it long-term, your doctor may have you take calcium supplements or liquid nutrition supplements.

Busy lifestyle rating - 2. Because raw foods are fairly scarce on this diet, preparing the food can be somewhat time-consuming. Vegetables will need to be cooked, and the diet includes a lot of lean chicken, lean meats, and fish, none of which are very easy to grab when you're on the run.

Family Friendly - 3. The Low Residue Diet is family friendly in that it is balanced and healthy.However, children will need more calcium than the diet provides.

Overall, the Low Residue Diet is a good choice for those who have medical conditions that need to limit the body of fiber and reduce the amount of stool. In many cases, the Low Residue Diet is recommended by doctors.