What Is the Bariatric Surgery Diet?

Bariatric Surgery is a type of procedure done by well experienced surgeons with the purpose of reducing weight. It is an operation also referred to as weight loss surgery. Bariatric Surgery is mostly performed on people who are obese.

How Is Bariatric Surgery Done?

Bariatric surgery is a process that requires a lot of care and professionalism to ensure that the procedure is a success. The surgeon will perform the procedure by re-routing the stomach and the small intestine. As a result, a small pouch of stomach is created within the patient. This will ensure that most of the weight is reduced.

Weight loss surgery is also performed to reduce the amount of fat in the body hence reducing weight. After the excess fat is sucked from the belly, the patient is able to lose a considerable amount of weight.

Importance of Good Diet for Bariatric Surgery

Every surgery is associated to different complications. It will also require different factors to be met to make sure that everything is done properly. Surgery will also involve avoiding some foods and also eating certain types of foods. This is done long before the surgery and also after. In the case of weight loss surgery, diet is very important since the operation involves the stomach.

Food that is consumed for the bariatric surgery is always consumed before and after the surgery. Here are some of the tips to follow until both the time of the surgery and after the surgery is performed.

Intake of Preoperative Diet

Known as the pre-op diet, it is used to reduce the fat content available around your spleen as well as the liver. This really helps to reduce the amount of fat and also make the surgery process easy to perform.

This type of diet is supposed to be adapted to and followed around 7 to 14 days to the surgery day. The diet will also help in reducing the size of your liver. A larger liver has always been known to make it difficult for the surgeon to perform certain operations during the surgery.

The following are some of the precautions to take within 1 to 2 weeks of the preoperative diet:

• Avoid beverages with caffeine or carbonate.
• It is advisable to consume vegetable juice.
• Consume protein shakes.
• Intake of thin cream of either wheat or rice.
• Intake of lean meat on a daily basis.
• Sugar-free beverages.

Medications

There are a number of medications that an individual should avoid one to two weeks to the surgery dates. Some of the medications to avoid include the following:

• Birth control pills
• Steroids
• Coumadin
• Replacement hormones
• Aspirin, Celebrex, Motrin.

Foods to Consume After Surgery

After the surgery, a patient is supposed to consume certain types of foods that not only help out in the recovery process but make sure that the side effects are reduced. Below is a guide that will assist you on learning what foods to consume, when to consume them, and by what amounts.

1^st Week

This is a very delicate period for the patient. You will not have recovered fully from the surgery and most of the wounds will still be painful. As a result, your dietitian will advise you to take clear liquids the whole of the first week. This diet is supposed to be followed until the patient is instructed to stop.

Some of the elements to be included in the clear liquids may include:

• Fat-free milk
• Water
• Sugar-free jello
• Fat-free broth

2^nd and 3^rd Week

A patient who undergoes bariatric surgery will have a smaller stomach. As a result, they are supposed to consume smaller meals several times in a day rather than large meals all at once. It is advised that you consume 60-70gm of protein a day. This may include; egg whites, pureed meat, protein shakes, or fish. You can also include around 64 ounces of clear liquids. Try to avoid carbonated and caffeinated beverages during this period.

Sources of pureed proteins include the following:

• Egg whites
• Soft cheese without fat
• Less fat cottage cheese

4^th and 5^th Week

This will enable the patient to take in more complex foods as compared to the previous weeks where it was restricted pure liquids.

There is an introduction of soft foods. Apart from taking soft foods in small amounts, the meals for the first, second, and third weeks should be maintained. Soft food refers to well mashed foods by use of a spoon, fork, or knife. During this stage, you can improve by introducing little amounts of soft vegetables or tiny portions of fat.

Here are some of the soft foods you may take during this stage:

Vegetables

• Carrots
• Tomatoes
• Squash
• Bananas
• Potatoes
• Green beans
• Cucumbers
• Avocados

Other Soft Foods

• Fish
• Tofu
• Egg whites
• Lean chicken
• Non-fat cheese
• Lean turkey

6^th Week

By the sixth week, your body will have recovered enough to take in solid foods. However, it is important that you start slowly for better adjustment. Here is how to go about this:

• Introduce one meal at a time to make sure that the body will adjust properly.
• Take time when eating these foods. You are always advised to chew the food slowly and properly.
• Make sure that you also continue to drink water every day. This should be at least 64 ounces.
• After this, you can proceed into consuming vegetables, proteins, and carbohydrates.

Foods to Take Caution When Eating

The following foods are difficult to digest which means that they should be taken with a lot of care. They may include:

• Pork
• Nuts
• Corn
• Beef
• Grapes
• Whole grains
• Beans
• Shellfish

The Bottom Line

Bariatric is a surgery that is performed to reduce weight. In most cases, this operation is performed to make sure that fat content in the body is reduced. However, there must be a lot of care taken to avoid any possible side effects which can be fatal.

Always consult your doctor for guidelines on the right diet both before and after the surgery.