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Can You Eat Before Your MRI Exam?

An MRI can be a scary experience, and most people want to make sure they can do anything possible to help them relax. One question that many patients ask is whether or not it’s safe to eat before their MRI exam. The answer can vary from patient to patient depending on various factors, but this blog post will break down the information you need in order to make an informed decision!

Can You Eat Before Your MRI Exam?

This can depend on a number of factors, including whether or not you have any allergies, what type of exam it is and where the test will be done. One thing to keep in mind is that there are certain foods that can cause reactions during your MRI scan if they contain metal pieces. Other items can cause the MRI exam to be canceled or delayed, so it can always help to have a list of no-no foods ready just in case.

A patient can usually eat up until one hour before their MRI scan starts if they are having an open procedure that does not involve your head being closed into a tube. If there is some sort of tube involved, you can usually eat up until two hours before the exam.

If a patient has any type of metal or implant in their body it can cause issues during an MRI scan since the machine can detect anything that is magnetic. This means if you have braces, screws, plates, piercings or even tattoos there could be serious problems with performing an MRI in your current state.

If you happen to have any type of medical device in your body, the doctor can usually give you more information about what can or cannot be done prior to an MRI exam. Since there are so many different types of devices out there, this can vary for each individual patient. If it’s possible for a patient to be scanned in the morning, they can always come in without eating anything for several hours.

One thing to keep in mind when it comes to MRI exams is that there are certain types of food that can cause problems during your scan. Foods with metal pieces can show up on the screen and make the test useless, so this means no candy or gum. The best thing to do is have a list of foods that can be eaten before an MRI so you can refer back if necessary!

Avoid These Foods Prior to Your Appointment

Foods that can cause problems during your MRI exam include:

– chips with salt or other seasonings

– nuts/peanuts

– highly seasoned food

– anything containing metal pieces

– anything that can be considered hard to chew

If you know for a fact that your MRI will not involve the need for any type of tube, then it would help if you can come in at least two hours before. It can also help if you have someone drive to and from the facility so there aren’t many reasons why you can’t have a light snack or meal before your scan. If you can’t do this for any reason, having a list of foods that can be eaten prior to an MRI is still incredibly helpful!

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