Do Clear Liquids Include Broth? A Comprehensive Guide

December 4, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the Mayo Clinic, a clear liquid diet is often prescribed for short periods to provide hydration and electrolytes during digestive issues or before procedures. This brings up a common question for patients: "Do clear liquids include broth?" The simple answer is yes, but with a crucial caveat—only specific types of broth are acceptable.

Quick Summary

Clear, fat-free broths are explicitly allowed on a clear liquid diet, while opaque or chunky varieties are prohibited. This short-term diet is used for medical preparations, ensuring the digestive system remains clear. Patients must choose clear chicken, beef, or vegetable broth, avoiding any fat, solids, or dairy for a successful procedure.

Key Points

Clear Broth is Allowed: Yes, broth is included in a clear liquid diet, but only if it's completely clear, fat-free, and contains no solids.
Visual Check is Key: To qualify as a clear liquid, you must be able to see through the broth. Any cloudiness indicates it is not suitable.
Avoid Solids and Fats: The broth must be free of any pieces of meat, noodles, vegetables, or emulsified fat.
Bouillon and Consommé are Safe: These are typically clear, fat-free options that meet the diet's requirements.
Homemade Must Be Strained: If making your own, ensure it is carefully skimmed and strained to remove all impurities.
Purpose is Digestive Rest: This diet is designed for short-term use to hydrate and provide electrolytes while resting the digestive system.
Follow Doctor's Orders: Always follow the specific instructions from your healthcare provider regarding your diet plan, especially concerning food colors for procedures like a colonoscopy.

Understanding the Clear Liquid Diet

A clear liquid diet is a temporary dietary plan consisting solely of transparent liquids that leave minimal residue in the digestive tract. It is commonly used for a few specific medical reasons:

Before medical procedures: It helps prepare the digestive tract for examinations like a colonoscopy, ensuring clear visibility.
After surgery: It is often the first step back to eating solid food, allowing the digestive system to recover gradually.
During digestive distress: It can be recommended for conditions such as vomiting, diarrhea, or gastritis to provide hydration without irritating the stomach and intestines.

The fundamental rule is that any liquid must be transparent enough to see through. This principle explains why items like apple juice and plain gelatin are allowed, while milk and orange juice with pulp are not.

Do Clear Liquids Include Broth? What to Look For

Yes, broth is included, provided it is a clear, fat-free variety. This typically means plain, strained chicken, beef, or vegetable broth. The key is to ensure it contains no solid pieces, noodles, or vegetables. The best options are often labeled as bouillon or consommé.

How to Choose the Right Broth

To ensure your broth is appropriate for a clear liquid diet, consider these factors:

Read the label: Check the ingredients list for any hidden solids, like rice, noodles, or vegetables. Also, ensure it's a fat-free variety. Many boxed broths are clear and fat-free, making them a safe choice.
Homemade vs. store-bought: While homemade broth can be excellent, it must be thoroughly skimmed of all fat and strained to remove every solid particle. Store-bought options are often easier to ensure compliance.
Stick to light colors: For some procedures, especially colonoscopies, patients are advised to avoid red or purple liquids. This rule extends to broth, so sticking to light-colored chicken or vegetable varieties is the safest bet.

Clear Broth vs. Opaque Broth

The visual difference between a clear broth and an opaque one is a reliable indicator of its suitability for a clear liquid diet. Cloudiness can result from fats or emulsified particles, both of which are not permitted on this restrictive diet.

Comparison Table: Clear vs. Opaque Broth


Characteristic	Clear Broth (Allowed)	Opaque Broth (Not Allowed)
Appearance	Transparent; you can see through it clearly.	Murky, cloudy, or milky appearance.
Fat Content	Skimmed of all fat; fat-free.	Contains emulsified fat, which creates a cloudy appearance.
Preparation	Simmered gently without boiling to prevent clouding.	Often boiled vigorously, causing fats to emulsify and solids to break down.
Solids	Contains no solid particles, herbs, or vegetables.	May contain fine particles of meat, bone, or vegetable matter.
Flavor Profile	Often lighter and more refined taste.	Can be richer and more robust due to emulsified fats and solids.

What to Eat and Drink on a Clear Liquid Diet

Beyond just broth, a clear liquid diet offers a few other options to help maintain hydration and manage hunger. It is important to note that this diet is not designed for long-term nutrition and should only be followed under a doctor's supervision.

The following items are typically allowed:

Water: Plain, carbonated, or flavored water is acceptable.
Juices: Pulp-free juices like apple, white grape, or cranberry are fine.
Clear Soda: Ginger ale, Sprite, or other light-colored sodas can help settle the stomach.
Gelatin: Plain, fruit-flavored gelatin is a common item, though sometimes colored gelatin (especially red or purple) is restricted before colonoscopies.
Tea and Coffee: Plain, black coffee or tea without any milk, cream, or nondairy creamer is permitted. Sugar or honey can be added for sweetness.
Sports Drinks: Certain colors of sports drinks like Gatorade or Powerade can be consumed.
Popsicles: Clear, fruit-flavored popsicles without milk or fruit pieces are acceptable.
Hard Candy: Clear, hard candies can be used to help with a dry mouth or hunger pangs.

Making Your Own Clear Broth

For those who prefer a homemade approach, making clear broth is a straightforward process. The key is gentle simmering and careful straining.

Start with Bones or Vegetables: Combine chicken bones, beef bones, or vegetable scraps (like onion peels, celery ends, and carrots) in a large pot.
Add Water and Simmer Gently: Cover the ingredients with cold water and bring it to a very gentle simmer. Avoid a rolling boil, as this can cause fats to emulsify and cloud the broth.
Skim Impurities: As the broth heats, a foamy layer of impurities will rise to the top. Use a spoon to skim this off frequently.
Strain Carefully: Once cooked, strain the liquid through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth to remove all solid particles. Do not press on the solids, as this can force impurities into the broth.
Chill and Skim Fat: For meat broths, chilling the liquid in the refrigerator will cause any remaining fat to solidify on the surface, making it easy to remove before reheating.

Conclusion

To definitively answer the question, "Do clear liquids include broth?", the answer is yes, provided it is a fat-free and solid-free broth like bouillon or consommé. The transparency of the liquid is the key indicator of its suitability. When following a clear liquid diet for medical reasons, it is critical to adhere to these guidelines to ensure the diet is effective and safe. Always consult with your doctor or a healthcare professional to confirm which liquids are appropriate for your specific health needs or procedure.

For additional dietary information, a helpful resource can be found on the Mayo Clinic's guide to a clear liquid diet.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, you can only have clear, fat-free broths like bouillon or consommé. Broths with fat, solid pieces of meat, vegetables, or noodles are not allowed.

Consommé is a broth or stock that has been clarified to be perfectly clear and free of impurities, making it an excellent choice for a clear liquid diet.

Not all bone broth is clear. Many recipes result in a cloudy broth with emulsified fats. For a clear liquid diet, the bone broth would need to be perfectly strained and clarified, which is often difficult to achieve at home.

For certain medical procedures like a colonoscopy, patients are typically instructed to avoid red and purple liquids to prevent discoloration that can interfere with the examination. Stick to clear, light-colored broths.

Seasoning your broth with salt is generally acceptable, as it does not interfere with the diet's purpose. However, check with your doctor for any specific restrictions, especially regarding spicy additives like pepper, which can sometimes irritate the digestive system.

Cloudy broth is often caused by boiling it too vigorously, which emulsifies fats and breaks down solid particles. While it may be safe to consume in a normal context, it is not suitable for a clear liquid diet and should be avoided.

For meat broths, the best way to ensure it is fat-free is to chill the broth in the refrigerator. The fat will rise to the surface and solidify, allowing you to easily scrape it off before serving.