Managing Quality of Life with LARS — Love Your Buns

The concept of eating a low-fiber and/or high-fiber diet can be confusing for many patients. Depending on the type of fiber ingested, it may create more problems than it helps with resulting soft stools and frequent evacuation. Multiple studies₆ showed₇ that supplementation with soluble dietary fiber can greatly improve the bulking and hydrated capacity of stool solids₄, the consistency of stools as well as issues related to fecal incontinence. Conversely, insoluble fiber may exacerbate diarrhea and bloating₅, also often increasing inflammation and pain in and around the rectum.

A low residue diet limits high amounts of insoluble fiber foods.

On a low residue diet, foods you would want to avoid are:

• Whole-grain breads and cereals

• Nuts and seeds

• Raw or dried fruits

• Some vegetables, particularly leafy vegetables like spinach and lettuce

“Residue” in this diet refers to undigested food products that makes up portions of stool. In many cases, insoluble fiber foods tend to prevent proper stool bulking, and instead promote faster bowel motility and more bowel movements per day.

The objective of this diet is to have fewer bowel movements each day, which will in turn ease many of the symptoms described in the symptoms section of this page.