Waste-free diet: what it is and when it is necessary

The waste-free diet is generally a special dietary regime, required for medical reasons, which is undertaken for a short period of time.

In fact, it essentially consists of avoiding all those foods that naturally produce waste. Waste is parts that cannot be broken down and which, therefore, are eliminated naturally by the work of the intestine.

Basically, all those foods very rich in fibre. Which foods to eat and which not? How to manipulate them in the most correct way? And who could benefit from a waste-free diet?

When the waste-free diet is useful

One ​​of the first reasons why a doctor might order you to go on a waste-free diet is in the preparation phase of some delicate clinical examinations. For example, both ultrasound and endoscopic tests, to probe problems affecting the digestive system.

In these cases, short periods of a few days are recommended following a diet free of fiber and waste, to prepare the internal organs and "clean" them, so that medical machinery can be more effective during detections.

The second reason is, however, linked to pathologies affecting the stomach and, above all, the intestine. For example, all chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, are often treated with nutritional precautions, including a large be careful to moderate the consumption of foods that are excessively fibrous and rich in waste.

But even the most common colitis and discomforts such as meteorism can benefit from a diet without waste or with a reduced consumption of dietary fibre.

What are fibers and why are they important

Fibres are fundamental for the well-being of the body, this is well known. They are not only useful for ensuring thegood functioning of the intestine but they also help to regulate blood sugar levels.

Furthermore, they have ahigh satiating power, and therefore are essential for those who have undertaken a weight loss journey or in any case follow a low-calorie diet.

Who follows a vegan diet o plant-based you will certainly consume large quantities of foods rich in fibre, but there are also many people who really don't like vegetables. Just think of how difficult it is to get children to eat vegetables or legumes!

However, as we mentioned in the previous paragraph, there are also subjects who, due to health problems, cannot consume it in large quantities or, even, for periods of time cannot consume it at all.

Since fiber is important, cutting it out or avoiding it completely isn't healthy. In these cases, it is good to know that there are some very delicate and water-soluble ones, which in small doses can help the intestine without causing irritation or swelling.

For example, organic psyllium husks are an excellent natural thickener, with prebiotic and mildly anti-inflammatory action, and helps to rebalance intestinal functions.

Waste-free diet: what to eat

We talk about fibers, or waste, to mean all those food residues that the body is unable to break down and transform into energy. The body, therefore, eliminates them through natural peristalsis.

We are talking about vegetable fibres, in particular, which are found in the toughest vegetables - ribs, beets, artichokes, cabbage - but also in legumes or fruit peels.

The first trick to avoid consuming too much fiber if we need to temporarily follow a waste-free diet is to eliminate, already during the food preparation phase, everything that we know is excessively fibrous.

For example, instead of consuming an apple as it is, simply washing it, it is best to peel it carefully and avoid ingesting the seeds and core. Or, there are foods that become much softer when cooked because the fibers tend to fall apart during cooking: it is better to prefer well-cooked vegetables rather than consuming salads and other raw vegetables.

If you want to be on the safe side, however, what are the waste-free foods?

Animal proteins certainly: meat, fish and eggs do not have this type of residue, although obviously they should always be consumed in a balanced way.

Cereals and their derivatives are ok, but better in a non-wholemeal version and without seeds or other "crunchy" elements added.

Among vegetables, potatoes are well tolerated, especially in the boiled version. Well-peeled fruit or, better yet, reduced to a mousse can be consumed without problems, as can filtered juices and centrifuged juices.

Often the need for a waste-free diet is also accompanied by a more or less temporary intolerance to lactose: in this case, it is better to also pay attention to the dairy products and don't overdo it with whole milk and yogurt, yogurt with pieces of fruit or too fatty cheeses.