This diet should only be followed with the guidance of your doctor or dietitian.
What is fibre?
Dietary fibre is the part of cereals, pulses, fruits and vegetables which are not digested and passes down the gut to form part of a bowel movement (stool).
It is made up of soluble and insoluble fibre.
Soluble fibre
Soluble fibre is broken down by bacteria in the gut to produce energy, gas and bulky stools.
Foods high in soluble fibre include:
- Barley
- Fruit
- Oats
- Pulses
- Seeds
- Vegetables
Insoluble fibre
Insoluble fibre passes through the gut in an undigested form. It draws water into the bowel (like a sponge) to make stools softer and more bulky.
Foods high in insoluble fibre include:
- Edible skins and seeds of soft fruit and vegetables e.g. grapes, strawberries, jacket potato skin
- Nuts
- Wholegrains e.g. wholegrain cereals and breads such as All Bran, bran flakes, fruit and fibre, multi-seeded bread
Why do I need to reduce the fibre in my diet?
A diet low in soluble and insoluble fibre can help to reduce the bulk of your stool and the number of bowel movements per day. A low fibre diet may be advised to help a number of different bowel symptoms or conditions such as:
- Bloating and stomach / abdominal discomfort
- Partial bowel obstruction (sub-acute bowel obstruction)
- Before / after bowel operations
- Acute inflammation of diverticular disease, relapse of Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
- Chronic radiation enteritis
The following table lists common foods that are lower in fibre to include in your diet and those that are higher in fibre to avoid:
| Low Fibre Foods to Choose | High Fibre Foods to Avoid | |
|---|---|---|
| Flour and bread | White bread and foods made with white flour or cornflour e.g. chapatti, crumpets, pancakes, pastry, pitta, plain bagels, plain naan bread, poppadoms, wraps and Yorkshire pudding | Brown, granary, Hi Bran, rye, wholegrain, wholemeal varieties of bread, flours and pastries Fruit and nut bread and pastries, seeded breads Oats, oatmeal, barley |
| Breakfast cereals | Coco Pops, Cornflakes, Frosties, Rice Krispies, and Special K | All Bran, Branflakes, Fruit ‘n’ Fibre, muesli, porridge, puffed wheat, Shredded Wheat, Shreddies, Sugar Puffs Weetabix and cereal bars |
| Rice, pasta and grains | Plain couscous White noodles, pasta and rice Polenta, tapioca and semolina | Brown and wild rice Bulgar wheat Wholewheat pasta and noodles Quinoa |
| Potatoes | All peeled and cooked potatoes e.g. mashed, boiled or inside of a jacket potato Yams | Sweet potato and skins of any potato |
| Pulses (beans, lentils, peas), nuts and seeds | Mushy peas | All types of beans e.g. baked beans, butter beans, kidney beans and soy beans Chick peas, hummus, garden peas Lentils e.g. green, red, and Puy All Nuts including coconut Seeds e.g. pumpkin, sesame and sunflower |
| Biscuits and cakes | Sweet or savoury biscuits and cakes made with white flour e.g. butter puffs, cream crackers, morning coffee, rich tea, shortbread, water biscuits Madeira cake and plain sponge cake, muffins and scones | Biscuits and cakes containing fruit or nuts and wholemeal varieties e.g. crispbreads, digestives, fig rolls, flapjack, fruit cake, fruit scones, malt loaf, mince pies, muffins, oatcakes |
| Dairy & Alternatives | Yoghurt without fruit pieces, nuts, pips or seeds Butter, cheese, cream, crème fraîche, custard, eggs, ice-cream, margarine, milk, milk puddings, mousse and sour cream Soya and dairy alternatives as above | Any cheese, yoghurts, milk or alternative product containing cereals, fruit pieces, nuts, pips or seeds |
| Sweets and preserves | Seedless jams and marmalade without peel Honey, lemon curd, sugar and syrup Boiled sweets, jelly sweets, marshmallows, mints Chocolate, fudge and toffee without nuts or fruit | Jams and marmalades containing peel or seeds Chutney, marzipan, peanut butter, pickles, sweet mincemeat Chocolate with dried fruit, nuts or seeds |
| Miscellaneous | Herbs, pepper, salt, spices Bovril, instant gravy, marmite, soy sauce, vinegar Clear or cream soups sieved and smooth without vegetables Brown and tomato sauce, mayonnaise, salad cream, smooth mustard | Soups containing vegetables, lentils or pearl barley Wholegrain mustard Popcorn Olives Quorn |
Fruits and vegetables
Fruits and vegetables often contain a lot of fibre. Keeping these to a minimum can help to reduce your symptoms.
Fibre is often contained in the skins, seeds, pips, stalks and stones of fruits and vegetables. Try to remove as much of these as possible. Well-cooked (cooked until soft) and finely chopped fruits and vegetables are often better tolerated.
Limit your intake of fruits and vegetables to two portions per day e.g. one portion of fruit and one portion of vegetables per day. Please note potatoes are not counted as a vegetable.
A portion of fruit is:
- 2 or more small fruits e.g. 2 plums or 2 satsumas (with skin removed)
- 1 medium size fruit e.g. 1 peeled apple or 1 banana
- 1 piece of large fruit e.g. 5cm slice of melon or ½ grapefruit
A portion of vegetables is:
- 3 heaped tablespoons of cooked vegetables e.g. cauliflower, beetroot or swede
The table below lists fruits and vegetables that are lower in fibre to include in your diet and those that are higher in fibre to avoid:
| Low Fibre Foods | High Fibre Foods | |
|---|---|---|
| Fruit | Cooked, stewed, tinned or ripe fruit without skin or seeds Apple, banana, grapefruit, mandarin, melon, nectarine, oranges, peach, pear, pineapple, plums, satsumas, tangerines Smooth fruit juice or smoothies | All fruit skins, stalks, seeds and stones All dried fruit Apricots, avocado, berries, cherries, dates, figs, grapes, gooseberries, , kiwi, mango, pears, pomegranate, prunes and rhubarb |
| Vegetables | Without skin, seeds or stalks Asparagus, beetroot, cauliflower, courgette, cucumber, marrow, peppers, pumpkin, and swede Tomatoes without skins and deseeded such as passata and tomato puree | All vegetable skins, seeds or stalks Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, celery, coleslaw, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, okra, olives, parsnips, peas, plantain and spinach, sweetcorn |
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is contained in fruit and vegetables and is used by the body for growth and repair. To ensure you have enough vitamin C in your diet, aim to have one of the following in addition to your two portions of fruits and vegetables per day:
- 1 glass (150ml) of smooth fruit juice (no bits) or
- 1 glass (150ml) of vitamin C enriched fruit drink
Are there any other changes to my diet that may help?
In addition to following a low fibre diet, the following dietary changes may help manage your symptoms:
- Eat smaller meals, more frequently throughout the day
- Chew all food well. If a food cannot be thoroughly chewed it should be avoided or a softer alternative chosen
- Cook your food until soft as this can sometimes make it easier to chew
- Avoid any food that is tough and / or stringy e.g. tough, gristly meat
- Avoid gas forming foods such as fizzy drinks and chewing gum
The following foods do not contain any fibre and can be included freely as part of a healthy balanced diet:
- Milk
- Dairy foods (without fruit or nuts)
- Tender meat, fish and poultry
- Fats, oils and sugar
- Drinks e.g. tea, coffee, squash, milk, malted drinks, hot chocolate, prescribed supplement drinks
- Spices, vinegar and flavourings
Suggested Meal plan
Back to topHow long should I follow a low fibre diet?
A low fibre diet should be followed for as long as your symptoms last or as advised by your doctor or care team.
If your doctor or care team are happy for you to reintroduce fibre into your diet, higher fibre foods should be gradually re-introduced one by one, over a period of time and in small amounts. If you find any particular food causes discomfort or makes your symptoms worse, restart your low fibre diet and contact your doctor or care team.
| Food | Add |
|---|---|
| Breakfast cereals | Cream Evaporated or condensed milk Full fat milk or yoghur, Honey, sugar or syrup |
| Vegetables and mashed potatoes | Butter or margarine Creamy cheese or white sauce Double cream Grated or cream cheese Olive oil |
| Soups | Double cream Dried milk powder Full fat milk Grated or cream cheese |
| Savoury dishes e.g. scrambled eggs | Butter or margarine Double cream Grated cheese Mayonnaise |
| Milk based sauces | Double cream Dried milk powder Full fat natural yoghurt Grated or cream cheese |
| Puddings | Custard Double cream Evaporated or condensed milk Honey Ice cream Syrup |
Practical tips for a small appetite
- Try smaller, more frequent meals / snacks every few hours
- Take fluids after a meal rather than just before as they may fill you up
- Relax before meal times and take your time while eating, remembering to chew thoroughly
- Try and get some fresh air before meal times to help stimulate your appetite
- If you are tired, you may enjoy food prepared by someone else
- In order to save time and energy, food can be cooked in larger amounts and then frozen
- Ready meals that are frozen, chilled or tinned take less effort to prepare (choose variety based on the low fibre guidance above)
Nourishing drink and snacks
As well as enriching your food, having nourishing drinks and snacks can also be useful to increase your energy intake if you have lost weight. Here are some suggestions:
- Hot milky drinks e.g. Horlicks, Ovaltine, hot chocolate, milky coffee
- Full fat milk or cold milkshakes with added ice cream or flavouring e.g. Nesquik powder or Crusha syrup
- Instant smooth soups without vegetable pieces made with milk instead of water
- Biscuits soaked in milk, tea or coffee, e.g. rich tea biscuits
- Chocolate (without nuts or fruit)
- Breakfast cereal with full fat milk (see allowed list of breakfast cereals)
Chemists and supermarkets sell supplemented milkshakes or soups such as Complan or Meritene. These drinks can be used in-between meals or at bedtime. They are available in a variety of sweet and savoury flavours and can be made up with milk. Nutritional supplement drinks are also available on prescription. Ask your dietitian or doctor for more information.
Diabetes
Fibre can be used to help control blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes. If you are reducing the amount of fibre in your diet adjustment of diabetes medication and regular blood glucose monitoring may be needed to help achieve this.
Contact your nurse, doctor or dietitian for further advice, especially if you take tablets (such as gliclazide) or insulin to control your blood glucose levels.
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