Diet & Beverage Suggestions for Short Bowel Syndrome
Handout File:
Diet & Beverage Suggestions for Short Bowel Syndrome (SBS)
This diet is from the patient guidebook, A Patient’s Guide to Managing a Short Bowel. To order a free copy, go to: https://www.shortbowelsyndrome.com/sign-up.
More information on Nutrition on short bowel syndrome is available at www.GInutrition.virginia.edu.
- Look for Patient Education and scroll down to Short Bowel Syndrome.
- Look under “Nutrition Articles” from the journal Practical Gastroenterology, which you can read or share with your physician.
Some general tips:
- If you have some colon remaining, a high complex carbohydrate diet is recommended.
- If you have a jejunostomy or high output ileostomy, a higher fat diet is recommended.
- See sections on carbohydrate and fat below so you know what we mean by this.
- Chew ALL food well to help break it down for digestion.
- Avoid concentrated sweets and beverages such as desserts, sodas, sweet drinks/tea, fruit juices, sweet coffee drinks, etc.
- Eat up to 6-8 smaller meals per day.
- Limit beverages with meals. Instead, sip allowed beverages between meals (see list below).
The “good choices” in this handout are more easily absorbed and tend not to increase diarrhea as much as those in the “avoid” column.
COMPLEX CARBOHYDRATES |
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Breads and Grains |
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Good Choices |
Avoid |
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Cereals |
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Good Choices |
Avoid |
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Crackers/Chips |
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Good Choices |
Avoid |
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Starchy Vegetables |
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Good Choices |
Avoid |
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FRUITS |
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Good Choices |
Avoid |
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NON-STARCHY VEGETABLES |
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Good Choices |
Avoid |
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In small amounts:
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PROTEINS |
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Meat, Fish, Poultry |
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Good Choices |
Avoid |
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Dairy and Soy |
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Good Choices |
Avoid |
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Nuts and Nut Butters |
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Good Choices |
Avoid |
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FAT CHOICES |
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Good Choices |
Avoid |
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MISCELLANEOUS/ SEASONINGS |
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Good Choices |
Avoid |
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DESSERTS (VERY LIMITED AMOUNTS) |
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Good Choices |
Avoid |
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BEVERAGES AND HYDRATION |
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Good Choices |
Avoid |
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