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What is a Clear Liquid Diet?

Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel

A clear liquid diet is a diet that is made up completely of liquids that are easy to digest and leave little to no material in the digestive tract. It is common for doctors to prescribe clear liquids to their patients prior to medical procedures. This is especially common if the patient has digestive problems or if the procedure has to do with the digestive tract. This kind of diet might also be prescribed to patients who are experiencing nausea or vomiting, or those recovering from certain kinds of medical procedures.

This diet does not offer sufficient nutrients or calories in the long term. For this reason, it is important not to stay on a clear liquid diet for more than a few days unless a doctor indicates otherwise. It can only offer hydration and some electrolytes, and provide a small amount of energy. It is not a sustainable diet.

Pomegranate juice can be drunk on a clear liquid diet.
Pomegranate juice can be drunk on a clear liquid diet.

While maintaining a clear liquid diet, it is important to refrain from liquids that have pulp or are not completely clear. Orange juice and milk, for examples, should not be consumed as a part of this diet. In addition to plain water, there are a number of juices that can be consumed by people who are on a diet of clear liquids. Acceptable juices include apple juice, cranberry juice, pomegranate juice, and grape juice. Lemonade is acceptable, but only if it has been strained to remove any pulp.

It's usually OK to drink cranberry juice while on a clear liquid diet.
It's usually OK to drink cranberry juice while on a clear liquid diet.

In addition to juices, sports drinks and clear sodas such as ginger ale can be consumed as part of a clear liquid diet. Tea and coffee are also acceptable as long as they do not include milk, cream, or powdered creamer. It is acceptable to flavor tea with honey.

Vegetable broth, chicken broth, and beef broth can also be added to a clear liquid diet. Chicken broth and beef broth can be especially important because they are some of the only "clear" liquids that offer protein. There are a very few solid foods that can be consumed as a part of this kind of diet. The most common solid foods that are allowed on clear liquid diets are gelatin and ice pops. The gelatin must be plain, without anything added, and the ice pops must not include fruit bits or fruit pulp.

Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel

In addition to her work as a freelance writer for TheHealthBoard, Diane is the executive editor of Black Lawrence Press, an independent publishing company based in upstate New York. She has also edited several anthologies, the e-newsletter Sapling, and The Adirondack Review. Diane has a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and an M.A. from Brooklyn College.

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Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel

In addition to her work as a freelance writer for TheHealthBoard, Diane is the executive editor of Black Lawrence Press, an independent publishing company based in upstate New York. She has also edited several anthologies, the e-newsletter Sapling, and The Adirondack Review. Diane has a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and an M.A. from Brooklyn College.

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Discussion Comments

bythewell

Clear broth is really good as a way to lose weight, although you should never try to have a clear liquid diet by itself unless you are told to by a doctor. Drinking some broth or some miso soup is a good way to start a meal though. It's quite filling and healthy and will help to stop you from eating too much of the main meal.

Just don't use it as a diet meal in itself. Moderation is the key.

lluviaporos

I met a girl who was on one of these diets. She had had severe food poisoning, or some other kind of stomach upset, leading her to really hurt her stomach. The doctor had given her a very strict diet so her stomach could heal, and it started off with a couple of days of clear liquids. We met at a wedding so she was very disappointed that she couldn't eat anything there (although she still seemed pretty sick). She said it was very difficult to keep to the diet, even though she felt ill. The clear liquid diet foods were just too bland and boring, but she had to eat so much of them to keep her calories up.

She just kept some broth in a bottle by her side and sipped it as though it was water.

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    • Pomegranate juice can be drunk on a clear liquid diet.
      Pomegranate juice can be drunk on a clear liquid diet.
    • It's usually OK to drink cranberry juice while on a clear liquid diet.
      By: Galina Mikhalishina
      It's usually OK to drink cranberry juice while on a clear liquid diet.
    • Sports drinks, which can be drunk on a clear liquid diet.
      By: travis manley
      Sports drinks, which can be drunk on a clear liquid diet.
    • Broth is typically made from meat and has a soft texture and mild flavor.
      By: fkruger
      Broth is typically made from meat and has a soft texture and mild flavor.
    • Drinking lots of water is recommended for those on a clear liquid diet.
      By: anyaivanova
      Drinking lots of water is recommended for those on a clear liquid diet.
    • Milk should not be consumed on the clear liquid diet.
      By: Andrey Kuzmin
      Milk should not be consumed on the clear liquid diet.