How Much Sodium & Sugar Are You Allowed After A Gastric Bypass?

Gastric bypass is a surgery conducted to help people lose a substantial amount of weight. The surgery significantly reduces the amount of food you can eat. Gastric bypass may be able to reduce the rate of disease in obese individuals. If you have had gastric bypass surgery, you should eat a healthy diet as directed by a dietitian to ensure you consume enough nutrients, and limit sugar and salt. You may also be sensitive to certain types of food, such as heavy foods like steak, and should avoid beverages at dinner.

Meals

You may need to return to a healthy diet by consuming calories through liquids and slowly building up to solids. Meals should be small. Add only one new food to a diet at a time. When you add solids, focus on high-protein foods low in fat, such as beans and lean meats. As with any healthy diet, foods should not contain substantial amounts of sugar or sodium, which may upset your stomach.

Sugar Intake

The Ohio State University Medical Center suggests consuming foods with 5 grams of sugar per serving or less. Rush University Medical Center recommends limiting sugar intake to no more than 10 grams of sugar per serving. Choose sugar-free products. Fruits have a natural sweetness and nutritional value and are a better choice than drinking soda pop.

Sodium and Supplements

Your body will not be able to consume all the nutrients it needs from the foods you eat, and MayoClinic.com recommends taking daily vitamin and mineral supplements for life. Avoid foods with high amounts of sodium, which tend to be found in junk foods, and foods with high fat content, which hold little nutritional value. The American Heart Association recommends the population in general consume no more than 1,500 milligrams of sodium each day. Talk with your doctor and nutritionist to determine a specific amount of sodium you should limit yourself to, as they may recommend you consume less sodium than is generally recommended.

Considerations

Each person’s body is different and may respond to the surgery in different ways. This includes sensitivity to foods. Eating healthy, balanced meals to ensure your body gets the nourishment it needs is essential. The key is to move slowly. Each individual needs to consume a different amount of daily calories based on gender, weight and height. Your dietitian can help you figure this out.