Can I Eat Pizza After Colonoscopy?- READ THIS BEFORE YOU DO!
In this post, we will answer if you can eat pizza right after a colonoscopy.
A colonoscopy is a relatively safe procedure to inspect the inside of the colon but you do have to take some precautions before and after a colonoscopy.
Eating pizza and other foods that are pretty hard to digest is not the best option so it is best to stay away from such food after a colonoscopy.
A Quick Summary
After a colonoscopy, you might be craving your favorite foods, such as pizza. However, it is not the best food to eat after such a procedure.
Eating pizza after a colonoscopy is not harmful ONLY if you have no symptoms.
If you already feel nausea and vomiting after the procedure or have other symptoms like bloating, then it is a BIG NO.
If you feel bloated after eating a pizza after a colonoscopy, it is a sign that your stomach and digestive tract are upset, and can cause vomiting.
That is why it is best to stick with soft and easy-to-digest food after the procedure. Avoid eating pizza after a colonoscopy if you have severe bloating, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.
Table of Contents
What Is Colonoscopy?
A colonoscopy is a procedure that examines your rectum and large intestine. It is done with the use of a fiber-optic instrument which is inserted in the anus to inspect the colon.
This is done to detect early stages of possible colon cancer or see any abnormalities inside the colon.
A biopsy can also be done during a colonoscopy, where the doctor takes a tissue sample to be inspected further in a laboratory.
That or the doctor can take photographs using a fiber optic camera attached to a flexible tube of any abnormal areas to treat certain conditions such as bleeding, swelling, and precancerous growths.
What To Eat After A Colonoscopy?
Preparing for a colonoscopy can be dehydrating and starving as you have to limit your food intake right before the procedure. It drains your energy as you must ensure that your digestive tract is clean.
That is why you will certainly feel starving after the procedure. If that is the case, you should always stick with soft and easy-to-digest foods after a colonoscopy.
There are also certain types of food that you should avoid right after a colonoscopy. Most of these foods are hard foods that take hours to digest.
Here is a list of some of the foods you can eat after a colonoscopy as well as the foods that you should try to avoid.
| What To Eat After A Colonoscopy | What NOT To Eat After A Colonoscopy |
| Water | Alcoholic beverages |
| Fruit juice | Whole grain bread or crackers |
| Vegetable juice | Steaks or other cuts of meat |
| Herbal tea | Corn |
| Saltine crackers | Legumes |
| Soup | Brown rice |
| Scrambled eggs | Dried fruit such as raisins |
| Yogurt | Coconut |
| Cooked veggies | Garlic, red pepper, and other spices. |
| Soft white fish | Highly seasoned foods |
| Pudding | Popcorn |
| Drinks with electrolytes | Fried food |
| White bread or toast | Nuts |
| Baked potatoes | Raw vegetables |
What Are The Risks Of Eating Pizza After A Colonoscopy?
Eating pizza and other foods that are hard to digest after a colonoscopy can pose some problems that might prolong the healing process.
That is the first problem; it takes a few hours for the colon to heal before you can eat hard foods, so eating pizza right away will delay the healing process.
Here are other risks that might occur when you eat pizza right after a colonoscopy:
- Stressed Digestive Tract – eating pizza after a colonoscopy might overuse your digestive tract, which can delay the healing process of your colon.
- Nausea and Vomiting – cheese and grease only increase the risk of feeling nauseous, which can result in vomiting.
- Dehydration – if you eat pizza and start vomiting, your body releases more fluid out of the body which can cause even more severe dehydration, which is not good for you.
It is best to avoid eating pizza right after the procedure. If you do not have any bad symptoms, you can enjoy a slice of pizza a few hours after the colonoscopy.
So When Can You Eat Pizza After A Colonoscopy?
According to UConn Health, you can return to your regular diet immediately if you do not feel any bad symptoms, but it is still best to avoid hard foods.
Assuming that you do not have any problems after the colonoscopy, it is recommended that you wait for 6 hours before eating pizza.
During these 6 hours, the colon is still trying to heal, and pizza can be hard to digest, so it is best to wait a few hours before you can enjoy a slice of pizza.
If you feel nauseous or bloated after the procedure, it is safer to wait for up to 2 days before eating foods that are hard to digest.
A normal colonoscopy with no cuts or other procedures allows you to eat whatever food you want as soon as the colonoscopy is done as long as you do not have any alarming symptoms.
You should go back to a healthy diet after a colonoscopy instead of eating pizzas and other hard foods.
Can You Eat Pizza Before A Colonoscopy?
You can eat pizza a few days before your colonoscopy but it is best to avoid it the day before the procedure.
Doctors often recommend you follow a specific diet before a colonoscopy to clean the colon. The diet usually involves not eating solid foods so you will have to stick with broths, soups, and such the day before.
It would be best if you drank only clear liquids like water, apple juice, or tea. They also give a specific timeline to ensure you are ready for the procedure.
This usually means that you cannot eat or drink anything after midnight before the colonoscopy. Some allow sips of water a couple of hours before the procedure.
It is best to follow what your doctor tells you before having a colonoscopy. Eating pizza a few days before the procedure is safe, but follow your doctor’s dietary instructions as the procedure comes closer.
Tips On Eating Safely After A Colonoscopy
There are certain things to avoid after a colonoscopy, but it does not mean that you should not be eating.
Here are some dietary tips that you can follow to keep your colon healthy after a colonoscopy:
1. Drink Plenty Of Fluids
After a colonoscopy, you might feel dehydrated since your diet has been limited in the last few hours. Make sure to prevent dehydration by drinking plenty of fluids.
Water and other drinks that have electrolytes in them are great for keeping you hydrated. Water cleanses your digestive system and prevents it from overworking.
2. Eat Foods With High-water Content
Again, this concerns dehydration but mostly to keep your digestive tract from overworking. Eat foods with high water content such as scrambled eggs, Jell-O, soup, cooked veggies, and yogurt.
After a colonoscopy, foods that can help you with better bowel movement are best.
3. Eat Smaller Portions
This goes for pizza and other food you eat after a colonoscopy. Make sure to eat smaller portions so you do not overwork your digestive tract.
Eat just the right amount of food to keep you from starving.
4. Avoid High-calorie Foods
If you genuinely cannot resist eating pizza after a colonoscopy, make sure you opt for healthier pizza options.
Avoid extra cheese, stuffed crust, and toppings with high-fat content, such as pepperoni, sausages, and fatty meats.
You can go for shrimp, cooked veggies, mushrooms, arugula, and lean meats like chicken that are more gentle in the stomach.
