Your physician will recommend bypass surgery if you have a diseased or narrow portion of your cardiac artery. The bypass diet involves taking a portion of a healthy vein and creating a new direction of blood flow around the weakened area. Because lifestyle factors, including a high-fat diet often contribute weakening or narrowing the artery, your physician will likely recommend dietary changes to minimize the chance you will need another surgery and to keep your new artery healthy. Always speak to your physician before beginning any type of diet post-surgery.
Sodium
One of the key factors to consider following bypass surgery is the amount of sodium in your diet. Excess sodium in your diet can contribute to high blood pressure because sodium attracts water, which can thicken your blood. Because your heart has to work harder to pump blood through your body, your blood pressure increases. While the general recommendations for sodium are 2,300 mg of sodium per day, your physician may recommend consuming less sodium, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Ways you can reduce sodium in your diet include not using table salt and avoiding canned, processed, cured or frozen foods, which tend to have extra sodium added to them.
Fats
High-fat foods can contribute to increased cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood vessels, which can cause narrowing in your arteries that leads to bypass surgery. Examples of high-cholesterol foods include animal products, especially red meat, lamb and pork that have visible fats. You also should avoid foods that have whole milk products, butter or tropical oils, such as coconut or palm oils. Read food labels carefully to ensure you do not eat foods that contain trans fatty acids, which are substances such as margarine added to foods to extend their shelf life.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Not all fats sources should be avoided post-bypass surgery. Examples include omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in tuna, mackerel, salmon, sardines, flaxseed, walnuts and trout. These fatty acids are helpful in reducing the amount of “bad” cholesterol circulating in your blood while increasing the “good” cholesterol levels in your blood. Try to eat omega-3 fatty acid servings between two and three times per week. If you have difficulty incorporating these foods into your diet, ask your physician if you could benefit from taking a fish oil capsule.
Healthy Carbohydrate Choices
Your physician also may recommend changing your carbohydrate intake post-bypass surgery. Cutting out sweets and sugary carbohydrates can help you reduce the amount of triglycerides in your blood that can contribute to heart disease. Instead, you can choose healthy carbohydrate sources, such as whole-wheat bread products. As an added bonus, these foods tend to be high in fiber, which can help you maintain steadier blood sugar levels.
References
- Cleveland Clinic; Diet After Bypass Surgery; 2011
- University of Southern California: A Patient's Guide to Heart Surgery: Diet and Nutrition
- "Mail Online"; What Should I Eat After a Heart Bypass?; Jane Clarke; July 2007
- Better Health Channel; Heart Bypass Surgery; June 2011
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center; After Heart Surgery; 2008
