Understanding Nutrition After Bariatric Surgery: Essential Tips for Success

It is important to follow dietary guidelines after successful bariatric surgery—healthcare providers such as Nourish 2 rise, carefully design guidelines that limit the amount of calories a patient consumes. Guidelines include preparing a balanced diet plan to eliminate nutrition deficiencies and preserve muscle tissues. Patients may find it difficult to follow the diet plan in the beginning; however, after making it a part of their routine, they won’t even notice it throughout their daily routine. Here are several essential guidelines that must be followed:

1. Generic Guidelines

• Eat small portions of balanced meals.
• Consume low sugar, fats, and calories.
• After surgery, patients should consume 300 and 600 calories daily and focus on thicker and thinner liquids.
• Patients should record food portions, including the amount of protein and calorie intake.
• Do not try eating quickly, and take small bites of food thoroughly.
• For safety, avoid certain foods such as bread, rice, fresh fruits, and raw vegetables, as well as meats that are not easily chewable, like steak and pork. 
• Opt for ground meat instead to ensure a smooth eating experience. Do not use straws to drink carbonated drinks or chew ice. Straws can build up air in your pouch and cause discomfort.
• Daily calorie intake should be at most 1000 calories.
• Avoid food and beverages that contain sugar, including fruit juice and concentrated sweets.

2. Fluid Intake

• One of the best practices is to drink lots of water. Additionally, it is best to maintain the consumption of calorie-free liquids to avoid dehydration. Fluids should be free of caffeine.
• Patients should have at least 2 liters of water daily. This practice can gradually become part of patient’s routines.
• Addictive substances such as alcohol should be avoided. The human body absorbs alcohol much faster after the surgery. Its addictive tendencies make it more difficult to predict and control.
• Healthcare companies recommend taking a sip of water six to eight times a day after eating.

3. Supplements

To prevent nutritional deficiencies, patients should take several supplements daily. Medications in the form of pills should be cut into six or eight small pieces as patients will find it difficult to absorb a whole pill as effectively as they did before surgery. In addition, pills may pass through the new anatomy with increased difficulty after surgery. Several supplements are recommended after surgery:

. Vitamin D Supplements

Vitamin D treatments should be taken by patients in quantities of 800–1000 international units (IU) each day, split into two doses of 400–500 IU each. Supplements containing calcium should be taken in addition to these. If the patient prefers, they can take both supplements together to avoid taking separate pills, provided that the amounts are correct.

. Vitamin B12 Supplement

A recommended quantity of 500 milligrams of sublingual vitamin B12 supplements should be taken by patients, either as tablets or under the tongue, daily in addition to vitamin D.

. Calcium Supplements

Consuming at least 1200  mg of calcium supplements is critical for patients to prevent bone disease and calcium deficiency. Patients should time the dosages by dividing them into two or three times daily routine to improve absorption. At least 500 mg of these should be taken thrice daily. In addition, calcium citrate is another form of calcium that isuitsr patients with bariatric surgery.

. Multivitamins

Taking chewable multivitamins in high potencies is an important step for patients alongside a mineral supplement that contains at least 18 mg of iron, zinc, copper, selenium, and 400 mcg of folic acid. Patients should opt for brands that contain this formula in chewable multivitamins. It is good practice to take two tablets daily for at least three months after surgery. After this, patients should take only one tablet.

. Proteins

Following a diet plan of foods containing proteins is important. A diet including Meat, fish, seafood, poultry, tuna, eggs, soy milk, cottage cheese, yogurt, tofu and other milk products is vital. Patients with bariatric surgery need to consume at least 65  grams of protein daily and should not worry if they are not able to reach this goal during the two months after surgery. 

. Additional Supplements

Folic acid and iron supplements are additional supplements that can benefit some patients. These are especially beneficial for women who are still mensurating. A dietician can help in this matter through discussions.

4. Progression of Diet after Bariatric Surgery

Following the surgery, the diet should be liquid. Patients an add thicker liquids to their diet after completing the surgery and being discharged from the hospital. Two weeks after the surgery, mashed foods may be added to the diet. In addition, liquid supplements, fluids, or powders with high proteins and low calories may be used to meet the protein requirements during this period.

Another important factor to consider is that, after surgery, the patient’s stomach becomes very small, measuring one-fourth of a cup or similar to the size of an egg. The passage that allows food out of the stomach also becomes narrow. Hence, it is important to take two to three sips at a time and wait ten minutes before taking another. This diet plan will help patients learn their limits and tolerance. Liquids will empty faster than soft liquids from the stomach. 

If patients overeat or eat more frequently, they may experience pain and nausea. It is best to avoid creamy, rich liquids like ice cream, sauces, and gravies. 

5. Conclusion: Nutrition Guidelines for Long-Term Improvement

With time, patients will be able to incorporate a new variety of foods into their diet. However, some foods can continue to be poorly tolerated. These include chicken, bread, red meat, high-fiber fruits, and vegetables. Guidelines from healthcare providers such as Nourish 2 rise, encourage patients to focus on low-sugar, low-calorie, and low-fat foods and actively record their calorie counts daily. 

Additionally, it is best if patients meet their serving goals for all types of food based on a diet plan for consuming 900 to 1000 calories daily. It’s also essential that patients drink at least 2 liters of water every day, along with fluids that do not contain calories unless a medical condition prevents them from doing so.