Food FAQ: What Color Popsicles Before Colonoscopy Are Allowable?

Many people choose to consume popsicles before a procedure, but very few people know what color popsicles before colonoscopy are the best.

However, since colonoscopy is a vital procedure for the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of colorectal cancer, the preparation process must be meticulously done. Adequate preparation for a colonoscopy depends heavily on diet. The diets employed in preparation for a colonoscopy are the low-fiber diet and the clear liquid diet, both of which are discussed in detail in the article Foods to Avoid Pre-Colonoscopy: Your Guide to Prepping Right. These diets are highly restrictive and only permit the consumption of a few carefully selected foods. Despite the tight restrictions attached to the colonoscopy prep diets, some sweets are permissible. One such permissible option is popsicles.

What are Popsicles?

Popsicles are frozen treats invented in 1905 by 11-year-old Frank Epperson. Although Epperson created the first popsicle using soda powder and powder, popsicles have since evolved into the fruity ice-on-stick treats we know today. Popsicles have become so popular that they can be made at home or bought from stores. There are also numerous versions and flavors of this treat.

What Color Popsicles Before Colonoscopy Are Allowed?

When preparing for a colonoscopy, it is essential to keep the colon free of fecal matter as much as possible to increase the visibility of the colon lining during the screening procedure. To achieve adequate intestinal emptying, colonoscopy patients are required to steer clear of high-fiber foods in the days leading up to the procedure. High-fiber foods must be avoided because fiber plays an active role in stool formation.

Furthermore, patients preparing for colonoscopy are advised to drink a lot of water. Staying hydrated while preparing for a colonoscopy is crucial in counterbalancing the dehydrating effects of the laxatives many people are given just before the procedure.

Popsicles – without fruit cuts – are low in fiber and have high water content. These qualities make them suitable for consumption on a pre-colonoscopy diet. However, there is a caveat. Certain types of popsicles are frowned upon by doctors when preparing for a colonoscopy. These popsicles are not to be licked before a colonoscopy because of their colors.

What Color Popsicles Before Colonoscopy To Avoid

As highlighted in our article Before Colonoscopy: What Can I Eat on a Clear Liquid Diet? When it comes to what color popsicles before colonoscopy to avoid, always remember that red, blue, and purple fluid foods should be avoided. This is because these colors can stain the colon lining, leading to a misinterpretation or, worse, a misdiagnosis when observed. A red stain can be mistaken for blood and misinterpreted as a leaking vessel, and blue and purple stains can be misinterpreted as cyanosis, a feature of dying tissue.

Other types of popsicles to avoid when preparing for a colonoscopy are popsicles with fruit cuts, seeds, pulp, and other sources of fiber. Also, whenever you want to start a diet, particularly one in preparation for a medical procedure, it is important to discuss it with your healthcare provider before you start.

AVOID – DO NOT CONSUME

• Red, blue or purple colors
• Fruit pieces or other solids
• Yogurt or dairy or non-dairy milks

OK TO CONSUME

• Any other colors, including clear, yellow and green, that are:
  • Without fruit pieces or dairy
  • Without fruit pulp, seeds or other particles