Use of Diet Soda in the Colonoscopy Preparation

A colonoscopy allows your physician to look inside your large intestine for early signs of cancer, inflamed tissue, abnormal growths, ulcers, reasons for changes in bowel habits, and bleeding. To get the best look possible, your colon must be completely empty. To achieve this, you must follow a liquid diet for one to three days prior to the colonoscopy.

Diet Soda as Part of Colonoscopy Preparation

• A liquid diet consists of clear, fat-free broth or bouillon, strained fruit juices, black coffee, water, plain tea, or carbonated drinks such as diet soda. The liquid diet should be clear and contain no food coloring. Red, orange and purple gelatin and popsicles should be avoided.

  A thorough cleansing of the colon is necessary before a colonoscopy, and you will likely be asked to take a laxative the night before the procedure.