Bariatric Surgery and Fatty Foods: What to Avoid Eating after Surgery
When considering bariatric surgery, it’s important to understand all the details involved, including what your diet should be like after surgery. Although bariatric surgery can help you lose weight quickly, it should not be viewed as a quick fix, but a tool to help you in achieving your weight loss and health goals.
If unhealthy, fatty foods are continually consumed after surgery, it can cause major complications and long-term health concerns. Our doctors at Tijuana Bariatrics will discuss the details of bariatric surgery and fatty foods during your pre-surgical visits at our Tijuana, Mexico, clinic, carefully reviewing what foods should be avoided post-bariatric surgery to ensure you achieve desirable results.
To give you a better understanding of how you’ll need to adjust your diet, read on to learn what foods we recommend avoiding and why.
Skip the High-Fat Foods
Eating foods, such as bacon, fried foods, whole milk, butter, and starchy foods can cause nausea and vomiting. In addition, fatty foods can prevent you from getting the valuable nutrition you need, complicating your weight loss goals. Because your stomach is limited in the amount of food it can consume after undergoing bariatric surgery, it is important that you fill it with healthy, nutritional foods. This can include:
- Chicken
- Turkey
- Fish
- Low-fat cheese
- Fruits
- Cooked vegetables
Three to four months after surgery, it is not uncommon to develop an aversion or allergy to certain foods when you begin adding solid foods back in. We encourage our patients to take it slow and easy. As your body continues to heal and adjust to the new normal, you may find that what once irritated it can now be consumed.
What Is Dumping Syndrome?
The consumption of fatty foods can also lead to a development known as “dumping syndrome.” This digestion issue is more commonly experienced after gastric bypass surgery and duodenal switch surgery. During dumping syndrome, food moves too quickly from the stomach to the small intestine, preventing adequate digestion and nutrition. When this occurs, patients often experience uncomfortable symptoms, such as:
- Extreme bloating
- Severe nausea
- Heightened heart rate
- Dizziness and shakiness
- Fatigue
- Confusion
Most patients can reduce the effects of dumping syndrome by making immediate adjustments to their diet. This includes:
- Eating five to six smaller meals throughout the day
- Eating healthy proteins
- Limiting soda, sugary foods, and alcohol
- Eating more fiber
- Avoiding drinking anything with your meals
Other Foods to Avoid
In addition to fatty foods, below are other foods that can complicate your surgery results:
- Alcohol
- Carbonated drinks
- Granola, nuts, and seeds
- Popcorn
- Fibrous vegetables (broccoli, celery, cabbage)
- Tough meats
- Fried foods
- Pasta and breads
Learn More Today
If you are interested in learning more about undergoing bariatric surgery and how it will affect your diet, we invite you to come in and visit with one of our experienced weight loss specialists. At Tijuana Bariatrics, we offer several amenities and comprehensive care to make your time with us more comfortable and enjoyable. Our doctors do not simply just perform surgery, they can help enhance your quality of life. Contact our office today online or by calling (800) 308-3607 to schedule your consultation.