Colonoscopies are important and life-changing procedures, but that doesn’t mean they’re any fun. Most people who have gone through a colonoscopy will tell you that the sensations are uncomfortable even when they aren’t painful: strong pressure can make patients feel distended and embarrassed.

But there is some good news on the colonoscopy front. (Back?) One of the least popular parts of the procedure is the tremendous laxative patients are required to drink before the procedure – an unappealing beverage whose immediate effect is to create an urgent need to poop that doesn’t let up for several agonizing hours. The drink itself is notoriously repulsive, which has led some researchers to investigate better options:

Now, the Boston-based company ColonaryConcepts aims to answer many colonoscopy patients’ prayers by developing bowel-clearing food bars and drinks that taste more like fruit smoothies and chocolate — but more research is needed before these bars will be available to the public.

If this succeeds, you can strike one negative off the list of colonoscopies. Just remember to balance any consideration of pros and cons with the fact that colonoscopies can prevent nearly half of all colon cancers.