What To Eat Before Blood Work? (Explained for Beginners)

To fast for blood work, do not eat anything for eight to 12 hours before the test. You can drink water, tea, or black coffee without adding sugar or milk. You don’t have to spend a lot of time in the lab if you schedule fasting blood work for the morning.

If you have a history of diabetes, you may need to take a blood glucose test at least once a year. You should also talk to your doctor about whether you should be screened for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and other risk factors for heart disease.

Does what you eat the day before affect blood work?

The food or drinks you consume the day or night before a blood test does not affect your results, unlike what you eat or drink the morning of your test. Coffee and other liquids should not be used during your blood draw.

What foods can affect a blood test?

The micronutrient, carbohydrate, protein, and fat levels in your food can all skew the results of some tests. A blood sugar test is an example of a test that requires fast food. Within 15 minutes of eating high in carbohydrates foods, your blood sugar levels can go up. If you eat a high-carbohydrate diet, your body will produce more insulin.

When insulin levels are high, the pancreas releases more glucose into your bloodstream. This increases the amount of sugar that your cells can use to make energy. As a result, you’ll have a higher level of insulin and a greater chance of developing type 2 diabetes.

What you should not do before a blood test?

Avoiding specific foods and drinks such as cooked meats, herbal tea, or alcohol. The day before a test, make sure you don’t eat too much. Sexual activity and strenuous exercise can be avoided. If you have any questions or concerns, talk to your doctor.

How can I lower my blood sugar before a blood test?

Before the test, you shouldn’t have anything to eat or drink (except water) for 8 to 12 hours. Discuss with your healthcare provider if you need a fast period. If you’re pregnant, talk with your health care provider before starting the fast.

Does what you eat the night before affect cholesterol test?

Canadian study suggests that a nonfasting cholesterol test will do just fine for most people. A meal beforehand is unlikely to change key ratios of fats in the blood that doctors use to assess a person’s risk of heart disease, according to a study published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.

The study, led by researchers at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, found that people who ate at least one meal a day before their cholesterol tests had lower levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides than those who did not eat at all before the tests. But the researchers cautioned that the results should not be used as a substitute for a healthy diet.

“The results of this study should be interpreted with caution,” said lead author Dr. Michael Eades, an associate professor at UBC’s School of Public Health and director of the university’s Centre for Health Policy and Outcomes Research. He said the study does not prove that eating a meal before a blood test is the best way to lower cholesterol levels, but it does suggest that it may be a good idea for some people to do so.

Can drinking too much water affect blood tests?

Water does not affect the results of a blood test, and is acceptable to drink when a urine test is not available. If you are concerned about your health, talk to your doctor.