Why do you drink apple juice before surgery?

Drinking clear apple juice before surgery (often as part of "carb loading") provides quick energy, improves hydration, boosts patient comfort, reduces insulin resistance, and can lead to shorter hospital stays and faster recovery by giving your body fuel to handle the stress of surgery and anesthesia, without the risks of solid food. It's a carbohydrate-rich, easily digestible liquid that helps keep you feeling better before the procedure.

Why are you supposed to drink apple juice before surgery?

Drinking clear apple juice before surgery (often as part of "carb loading") provides quick energy, improves hydration, boosts patient comfort, reduces insulin resistance, and can lead to shorter hospital stays and faster recovery by giving your body fuel to handle the stress of surgery and anesthesia, without the risks of solid food. It's a carbohydrate-rich, easily digestible liquid that helps keep you feeling better before the procedure.
 

Why is hospital apple juice so good?

Hospital apple juice tastes so good because it's often 100% juice, perfectly balanced with natural sugars and tartness (like malic acid) for hydration, provides quick energy after anesthesia, and the small portions are intensely satisfying when you're sick, offering a familiar, comforting taste and nutrients like Vitamin C and potassium when your body needs it most. It's the right mix of sweet and sour that your body craves during recovery.
 

What is the happy juice they give you before surgery?

"Happy juice" before surgery is a colloquial term for an oral sedative, often given to children (and sometimes adults) to reduce anxiety, make them feel relaxed or silly, and help them not remember the stressful parts of pre-op or the procedure itself. It's usually a mix of anti-anxiety meds like Midazolam (Versed) or Hydroxyzine, helping patients cope with fear before anesthesia starts, making the experience smoother and less traumatic, with effects like drowsiness and sometimes even funny reactions.
 

What is the best thing to drink before surgery?

Two Hours Before Surgery

Drink 10 oz of clear carbohydrate beverage with or without sugar, including sports drinks, nutritional or clear fruit juice, at bedtime and up to 2 hours before your surgery.

Instructions for Eating and Drinking Before Your Surgery

What if I accidentally drank water before my surgery?

One of the most common rules before any kind of surgery is to fast 12 hours before surgery. This is done as a precautionary measure. If there is excess water in your system during a surgery, it can lead to pulmonary aspiration.

Is apple juice a clear liquid?

Yes, apple juice is generally considered a clear liquid, especially the filtered kind without pulp, because you can see through it, making it acceptable for clear liquid diets before medical procedures, as long as it's not red or purple. It's a staple on these diets, alongside water, clear broths, and lemon-lime sodas, offering hydration and some electrolytes.
 

What is the 2 4 6 rule for anesthesia?

The 2-4-6 rule for anesthesia is a guideline for preoperative fasting, indicating how long patients should abstain from food and drink before surgery to prevent aspiration (inhaling stomach contents): 2 hours for clear liquids, 4 hours for breast milk, and 6 hours for formula or light meals, with heavier meals requiring longer (often 8+). This evidence-based rule, established by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), replaces older "NPO after midnight" mandates, allowing for shorter, safer fasting times for most healthy patients. 

Which drug is known as the Happy Pill?

“Happy pills” — in particular the anxiolytic drugs Miltown and Valium and the antidepressant Prozac — have been spectacularly successful “products” over the last 5 decades, largely because they have widespread off label use. Miltown, launched in the 1950s, was the first “blockbuster” psychotropic drug in the US.

Why do doctors recommend apple juice?

Apple juice is packed with nutrients that promote cardiovascular health. A daily glass of apple juice is rich in soluble fiber and potassium. These micro-nutrients lower blood pressure and improve blood vessel function. Soluble fiber also regulates blood sugar levels, reducing the risk of heart disease even more.

What is the healthiest apple juice to get?

The healthiest apple juice is typically 100% organic, unfiltered (cloudy) apple juice with pulp, from brands like North Coast Organic, R.W. Knudsen, or O Organics, as it retains more heart-healthy polyphenols, antioxidants, and fiber found in the skin and pulp, while avoiding added sugars and pesticides. Look for labels stating "no added sugar" and choose cloudy varieties for maximum nutrients, similar to juice made from Gala apples known for their polyphenol content.
 

What's the best time to drink apple juice?

The best times to drink apple juice are first thing in the morning on an empty stomach for nutrient absorption, before a workout for quick energy, or as an afternoon boost to fight slumps, but avoid it late at night or with meals due to its sugar content, which can disrupt sleep or digestion. For maximum benefits, opt for fresh, diluted juice, potentially from green apples, to get hydration and antioxidants without excessive sugar. 

Why no water before anesthesia?

You can't have water (or anything else) before anesthesia primarily to prevent aspiration, a dangerous condition where stomach contents, including water, get into your lungs when your protective reflexes are dulled by anesthesia, potentially causing pneumonia or serious lung damage. Anesthesia relaxes your throat muscles and cough reflex, so an empty stomach minimizes the risk of liquid coming back up and being inhaled. While older rules were stricter, modern guidelines often allow clear liquids (like water) up to 2 hours before surgery for hydration, but always follow your specific doctor's NPO (nothing by mouth) instructions. 

Can I brush my teeth while fasting for surgery?

It is important to follow the instructions the hospital gives you so that you do not inhale food or fluids into your lungs during surgery. Follow these instructions on fasting before your surgery to stay safe during your procedure. You can brush your teeth while fasting but avoid swallowing toothpaste.

What is the best food to eat the day before surgery?

What to Eat Before Surgery

• Whole grains, fruits, vegetables and dairy products.
• Protein-rich foods, including lean meat (turkey, chicken, or pork), fish, poultry, beans, eggs, cheese, nuts, tofu, milk, cottage cheese, yogurt, and protein drinks.
• Drinking at least 6–8 8-oz cups of fluid each day to stay well hydrated.

What do anesthesiologists use to put you to sleep?

Anesthesiologists use a combination of fast-acting intravenous (IV) drugs, primarily Propofol, to put you to sleep quickly, along with inhaled anesthetic gases (like Sevoflurane or Desflurane) to maintain unconsciousness, and sometimes muscle relaxants for surgery, delivered through an IV drip or a mask, creating a controlled unconscious state deeper than sleep for procedures.
 

How do surgeons stay calm during surgery?

Individual strategies include visualization, self-talk, affirmations, concentration skills and breathing,10 which can be employed directly by the surgeon. These techniques are simple to teach and use but still require time and training to master.

What should you not do the night before anesthesia?

DO NOT SMOKE OR DRINK ALCOHOL 24 HOURS PRIOR TO SURGERY. DO NOT DRIVE OR OPERATE HAZARDOUS MACHINERY THE SAME DAY AFTER SURGERY. Arrange transportation with a responsible adult to bring you to and from the office. Someone will need to take care of you for at least 6 hours after leaving the office.

How do anesthesiologists know how much anesthesia to give?

Anesthesiologists can detect your level of sedation by monitoring your vital signs — things like blood pressure, breathing rate and pupil size. But measuring consciousness is tricky. Because the drugs used during general anesthesia affect your autonomic nervous system, you can't move around or speak.

Is orange juice a clear liquid for anesthesia?

In summary, it is clear to us, as it is to a majority of practicing anesthesiologists in North America, that black coffee, black tea, apple juice, pulp-free orange juice, cola drinks, and of course, water are examples of clear liquid that could be allowed 2–3 h before elective surgery.

What brand of apple juice is clear?

Popular clear apple juice brands include Mott's, Martinelli's, Juicy Juice, and store brands like Market Pantry (Target) or 365 (Whole Foods), which are known for their filtered, transparent juice, though cloudy (unfiltered) options like some from O Organics offer more pulp and antioxidants but a different texture.
 

What is clear apple juice before surgery?

Clear apple juice before surgery is a carbohydrate-rich, see-through liquid allowed by modern guidelines up to 2 hours before anesthesia to provide energy, reduce thirst, and decrease anxiety, acting as "carb loading" to help the body cope with surgical stress, unlike solid foods or milky drinks that stay in the stomach longer. It's part of an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) approach, but always follow your surgeon's specific instructions.
 

How can I satisfy my hunger during colonoscopy prep?

To deal with hunger during colonoscopy prep, focus on calorie-rich, clear liquids like bone broth, sugar-free Jell-O, clear juices (apple, white grape), sports drinks (avoiding red/purple), and black coffee/tea, drinking them consistently to stay full and hydrated, and try scheduling the procedure for early morning to minimize the fasting period.