You may be referred to, or be advised to visit an endoscopy clinic in Singapore if you have symptoms which suggest issues with your digestive tract. Examples symptoms that may prompt a referral to an endoscopy clinic include persistent stomach pain, unexplained weight loss, trouble swallowing, blood in your stools, and long-standing heartburn.
You may also want to visit an endoscopy clinic simply for routine screening. At the clinic, you will find medical staff who are skilled in administering tests like gastroscopy (upper endoscopy) to inspect your oesophagus, stomach and first part of the small bowel, and colonoscopy to check your large intestine.
Endoscopy clinics usually also offer biopsies, simple treatments like removing small polyps, and follow-up care after the test. Once at the facility, the clinic team will not only prepare you but also give you clear instructions and carry out the procedure under local sedation or light sedation.
After the procedure, they will explain the results so you know what next. In today’s guide, we will show you what you can eat and what you cannot eat before an endoscopy. But first…
How Many Hours Can I Eat Before an Endoscopy?
Most clinics ask you to fast so your stomach and bowels stay empty during the test. In case you’re wondering why, fasting reduces aspiration risk to prevent stomach content from entering your lungs under sedation.
It also ensures your stomach stays empty so the doctor can get a clear view during the procedure. So, how many hours can you eat before an endoscopy? For upper endoscopy (EGD/gastroscopy), the answer is; no solid food for 6 to 8 hours and only clear fluids up to 2 hours before the procedure.
As earlier explained, that lets doctors see clearly and lowers the risk of food or fluid entering your lungs if you receive sedation. Many hospitals and anaesthesia bodies use this 6-hour solids / 2-hour clear fluids rule as the standard for adults.
Some centres remain more conservative and ask you to stop eating at midnight if your appointment is early-morning though. Your endoscopy clinic in Singapore may do this when the meal you ate was heavy, fatty or late in the evening, because such foods take longer to leave the stomach.
If a clinic schedules your procedure in the afternoon, they may give a tailored fasting window and allow a light breakfast early in the day, then nothing after a specified cut-off time. If you have diabetes, take medicines that affect stomach emptying, or have other health issues, the clinic may change the fasting plan to keep you safe. We recommend confirming the exact timing with your endoscopy clinic in Singapore when you get your appointment letter.
What is the Best Thing to Eat before an Endoscopy?
Naturally, you want your endoscopy to run smoothly with no hiccups. With this in mind you may want to ask; what is the best thing to eat before an endoscopy?
Now, for most endoscopies, the best “food” before the test is none at all. Your team will ask you to fast so your stomach stays empty. Clear fluids may be allowed up to the clinic’s cut-off time, but solid food should be avoided for the specified hours before your appointment.
This empty stomach gives your doctor a better view and reduces the chance of problems during sedation. If your clinic allows clear fluids before the cut-off, choose plain options that leave little residue.
Water is one of the best options. Clear apple or grape juice (without pulp), plain broth, black coffee or plain tea without milk and plain gelatin (not red, purple or blue) are acceptable.
A small amount of sugar in drinks is usually fine if you need energy, but avoid milk, cream or any opaque drink because those can coat the lining and obscure the view. For colonoscopy prep you usually follow a low-fibre or clear-liquid plan for 1–3 days before and switch to only clear liquids the day before.
On the day of the exam you must avoid solids entirely and stop clear fluids at the clinic’s cut-off time (often a few hours before arrival). If you feel weak or dizzy while fasting, tell your clinic. They can give specific advice for people with diabetes or other conditions to avoid low blood sugar.
What Foods Should I Avoid a Day Before an Endoscopy?
The day before most endoscopies you should avoid solid foods and switch to clear liquids when instructed. The reason why solid meals are not recommended is because they tend to leave particles and residue in the gut.
These particles and residue can obscure findings and force staff to delay or repeat the test. Common guidance asks you to stop solids from midnight or from a time set by the clinic.
Avoid high-fibre items like bran, whole grains, seeds, raw vegetables, nuts, pulses, brown rice and whole-grain bread. These foods leave particles that cling to the bowel lining and make it hard to see during colonoscopy.
Also skip fruits with pulp and skins, and fibrous pasta or rice. Do not drink dairy-based or opaque liquids like milk, creamy soups, smoothies or protein shakes because they cloud the stomach and gut.
Avoid coloured drinks too, especially red, orange or purple-coloured juices, gelatin or ice pops. The reason for avoiding these drinks is because their colours can mimic blood and confuse the endoscopist.
You will also want to steer clear of fatty or fried meals, and processed or cured meats like bacon and salami in the 24 hours before your test. Fatty foods slow gastric emptying and may extend fasting times.
Follow the clinic’s specific timeline: usually clear liquids through the day before, stop solids by midnight (or as instructed) and stop clear liquids a few hours before arrival. If your clinic prescribes bowel prep for colonoscopy, complete it exactly as shown. You do not want to fail to do so as this can reduce the test’s accuracy and may mean you need to repeat the procedure.
In Closing
Preparing well before your visit to an endoscopy clinic in Singapore does not only improve safety. It also helps your doctor get clear results.
You should expect to stop solid food at least 6 hours before an upper endoscopy, and often to switch to clear liquids only on the day before a colonoscopy. Many clinics let you have clear fluids up to about 2 hours before your scheduled time, but guidance varies with the procedure, your health and the sedatives used. So, read the instructions the clinic gives you, and ask staff about medicines, diabetes care or other concerns.
If you need an appointment, we welcome you to contact our endoscopy clinic in Singapore to get the exact prep instructions for your test. We will help you ensure proper preparation so your procedure goes safely and on time. To schedule an appointment, call or visit us at;
Dr Lee Chin Li – Lee Surgery and Endoscopy | Colorectal Surgery | Gallbladder Surgery Singapore
6 Napier Rd, #04-16 Gleneagles Medical Centre,
Singapore 258499