Diet after Bariatric Surgery

The obesity epidemic has caused many people to rethink how they’re living their lives. The Centers for Disease Control estimate the around one-third of adults in the United States are obese and that 17 percent of children in the United States are obese. This is a dangerous number regardless a person’s age given that obesity and morbid obesity are linked to a number of adverse health conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, respiratory problems, joint problems, respiratory problems, and even some kinds of cancers. It’s important that people who are obese or morbidly obese determine how to reduce their weight and lead healthier lifestyles in order to avoid the many health problems that they may face.

The above may explain why so many people have turned to Santo Domingo bariatric surgeon Dr. Abel R. González. Using his experience and knowledge of bariatrics, Dr. González will be able to perform effective weight loss surgery that meets the diverse needs of his patients. He will also offer some advice for life after bariatric surgery since patients will have many changes in life moving forward.

Dietary Changes After Weight Loss Surgery

One of the biggest changes that patients will face after bariatric surgery is their diet. After having the stomach size reduced or the digestive tract altered, people will need to think more about what they eat and how they eat. While there will be some variation in what you can expect after surgery in terms of your diet, we’d like to go over some basic dietary concerns right now. We can discuss these in more detail during the consultation process, and you can find more pointers on these matters from members of weight loss surgery support groups as well.

Starting with Liquids and Pureed Foods

In the first weeks after your bariatric surgery, you will be on a predominantly liquid diet. You will be eating jello, milk, natural fruit juice, and broths to start, for instance, slowly moving to pureed foods as time progresses, usually graduating to pureed foods a month after surgery. These pureed foods will basically be anything that can be blended well into a liquid with little hassle, such as soft fruits, soft vegetables, yogurt, lean meats, and some other non-meat proteins. It’s important that the foods you consume in these early phases are not too spicy and that you gradually incorporate meat into your diet. Do not rush.

Slowly Integrating Solid Foods

At the two month mark, you can start to eat solid foods again, but you must take this slow. Ideally, start with the foods you ate during the pureed period, but this time do not puree them. Chew your food thoroughly and slowly and do not overeat. Be sure to avoid carbonated beverages, hard foods, breads, popcorn, and dried fruits.

Take Things Slow

Ideally you’ll want to gradually experiment with foods to find out which ones work best for you. You’ll likely notice that your body tolerates proteins best, but be sure to eat a balanced diet. Meal size and portion size will change as well, so be sure to eat what’s right for you. Taking things slow will help avoid dumping syndrome, which occurs when food makes its way to the small intestine too soon, leading to cramps, discomfort, diarrhea, and nausea.

To learn more about dietary changes after bariatric surgery as well as Santo Domingo gastric plication and other topics related to surgical weight loss, be sure to contact our Santo Domingo weight loss surgery center today. We look forward to discussing these matters with you in more detail.