Diet after Bariatric surgeries
Obese patients are confused about what diet should be followed after undergoing bariatric surgery, so we will discuss everything you need to know about the diet after bariatric surgery and its importance in the success of the surgery.
Why is the diet after bariatric surgery so important?
The diet after bariatric surgery is one of the most important factors for the success of the surgery. At this stage, the obese patient has taken several steps; Beginning with deciding to undergo bariatric surgery, passing through the necessary examinations under the supervision of Dr. Heikal Mahmoud, choosing the appropriate surgery, and finally undergoing the surgery. Therefore, the patient must strictly adhere to the diet after bariatric surgeries until reaching his goal.
The obese patient must realize that his stomach after surgery needs some time to heal well, so the diet consists of six weeks; So that the stomach is prepared gradually to receive all types of food again but in small quantities.
The bariatric surgery diet:
1- The first week after bariatric surgery:
The transparent and filtered and sugar-free drinks are the only drinks that are allowed in the first week, such as:
- Filtered apple or grape juice.
- Warm drinks such as mint, anise, and hibiscus.
- Half a cup of coconut, soy, or almond milk.
- Red or green tea.
- A sugar-free jelly dish.
- Chicken and beef soup, fat-free and without spices.
- Drinking 2 liters of water daily that can be prepared as a detox drink.
The patient should be concerned with drinking slowly half a cup of these drinks every half hour, provided that they are moderate in temperature and without the use of a straw to avoid flatulence.
You should refrain from drinking carbonated water because it contains a large amount of sugar. Also, do not drink orange, lemon, or grapefruit juice because they contain citric acid, which may increase stomach acidity and cause a feeling of discomfort.
2- The second week after bariatric surgery:
Full or opaque drinks are allowed such as:
- Fat-free milk.
- Fat-free yogurt.
- Whey protein drink.
3- The third week after bariatric surgery:
The patient can start eating light or whipped soups to ensure the absence of food pieces that are difficultly digested in the stomach, take into consideration not to add any hot spices such as black pepper or hot red pepper.
It is preferable to prepare recipes using chicken or meat soup because it contains protein and other nutritional values for the human body, such as carrot soup, zucchini soup, oat soup, or lentil soup.
4- The fourth week after bariatric surgery:
The diet consists of soft or mashed foods, such as mashed potatoes, mashed beans, low-salt and fat-free white cheese, oats with warm milk.
The patient should avoid drinking half an hour before and after eating.
The patient must divide his food into 5 or 6 meals, to eat one every 3 hours approximately.
5- The fifth week after bariatric surgery:
The patient can start eating foods mashed with a fork, such as tuna or grilled fish mashed, chicken liver, and grilled chicken breasts.
The patient should stop eating as soon as he is full.
Meals should include protein, vegetables, fruits, carbohydrates, and healthy fats such as olive oil, sunflower, and corn, and stop using butter in cooking food.
6- The sixth week after bariatric surgery:
The patient can eat foods such as:
- Vegetables such as mallow or okra.
- Protein, such as chicken, fish, or meat.
- Omelette.
- Carbohydrates such as brown toast, rice, or pasta.
- Fruits such as bananas, oranges, melons, or cantaloupes.
After the sixth week, the obese patient will be able to eat similar food as before, but in smaller quantities, which allows them to succeed in losing weight and getting rid of obesity.
