Gastric bypass surgery can change your life in many ways. If you opt for the surgery, you'll likely lose a considerable amount of weight very quickly, which potentially can lower your risk for numerous health complications of obesity. However, gastric bypass surgery potentially can cause malnutrition, because you won't be able to absorb all the nutrients your foods contain. Because of this, you'll need to follow a very specific diet following your surgery.
Surgery Function
People who have gastric bypass surgery generally start out as very obese, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Because gastric bypass surgery can present risks, your physician likely won't recommend the surgery unless you require it for health reasons. There are four different types of gastric bypass procedures, all of which will make your stomach smaller. Some of the procedures also will deliberately cause your body to absorb fewer nutrients, making proper nutrition critical post-surgery.
Post-Surgery
After your gastric bypass surgery, you won't be able to eat anything, and you'll be able to drink only clear liquids such as broth and tea, according to the University of Minnesota. At this point, you'll be more concerned with healing than with nutrition. But within 10 days, you'll graduate to pureed foods. At that point, you'll need to start focusing on nutrition. Make sure you get enough protein, at least 60 grams per day, and avoid foods with added fat and sugar. Strive for a healthy balance between protein, fat and carbohydrates.
Later Diet Phases
As your digestive tract continues to heal from gastric bypass surgery, you can eat a wider variety of foods, including soft and semi-soft meats, fruits, vegetables and bread products, according to the University of Minnesota. Eventually, you'll eat a more normal diet. But you should always strive to avoid so-called "empty calories" such as snack foods with highly-refined sugars and starches in them. Your food should be low in fat and added sugar and rich in vitamins and minerals, which can help your nutritional status.
Warning
If you slip up and eat a meal that contains a huge amount of sugar, you may experience the "dumping syndrome," according to the University of Mississippi. Dumping syndrome symptoms include dizziness, diarrhea, nausea and sweating. Eating cakes, cookies and pies can cause the dumping syndrome, and the symptoms may be unpleasant enough that you won't consume those again, at least in those quantities.
Considerations
Many gastric bypass patients risk nutritional deficiencies, and your doctor probably will recommend you take a multi-vitamin every day, according to the University of Mississippi. You can use protein drinks or powders to supplement your protein needs if you can't get enough in the foods you eat. In addition, you should monitor your calcium intake and take a calcium supplement if you're not getting enough of this mineral to keep your bones healthy.
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