A low residue diet is meant to put as few demands on the digestive tract as possible. It's similar to a low fiber diet, but it also excludes some foods that can stimulate bowel contractions. "Residue" refers to material left in your digestive tract after the initial stages of digestion are finished. These materials often contain a lot of fiber because the body can't fully digest fiber. A low residue diet restricts foods that contain indigestible material. This causes the body to produce smaller amounts of stool less frequently. A low residue diet is typically recommended for people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) flares, for bowel surgery and colonoscopy prep, and for people with infectious colitis or acute diverticulitis. A low-residue diet is a diet that is designed to "rest" the bowel. It is a type of low-fiber diet with added restrictions. A low-residue diet is not a diet plan to follow regularly. It is advised for some people for the short term during a flare of inflammatory bowel disease here is intestinal narrowing, before or after bowel surgery, and other conditions for which it is useful to reduce the amount of stool in the intestines. The food we eat is digested so that the body can extract the nutrients it needs to function. What's left over is "residue" or undigested food that passes through the colon (large intestine), and is eliminated as stool or feces. A low-residue diet limits fiber and other substances with the goal of reducing stool volume. This results in fewer and smaller bowel movements, potentially relieving symptoms of bowel diseases that can cause inflammation, such as abdominal pain and cramping, bloating, and gas formation. Fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes supply important antioxidants, phytonutrients, vitamins, minerals, and more. Normally, you should try to consume a balanced diet, unless your healthcare team tells you otherwise, as the low residue diet may not provide enough of certain nutrients your body needs to function optimally. All of these nutrients are essential for good health. Supplements may be necessary to correct deficiencies. A low-residue diet encompasses more than eating less fiber. In addition to decreasing the amount of fiber, individuals eating a low-residue diet also should try to restrict foods that increase bowel activity, and make the stools looser. Examples include dairy products and fruit juices such as prune juice that do not have pulp fiber, but do stimulate the bowel.