Foods to Avoid After Gastric Bypass Surgery - What Foods Can You Not Eat (2024)

Gastric bypass is a major weight-loss surgery that helps reduce the amount of food you can eat and how much nutrition your body absorbs.

The amount of weight you may lose depends on your diet and exercise plan.

Read more: How Much Weight Will I Lose After Gastric Bypass Surgery?

To ensure you meet your post-surgery weight loss goals, here are some food items to avoid:

1. High-fat Meats

After your gastric bypass, high-fat meats like bacon, sausage, bologna, and salami should be avoided entirely. Not only are these types of meat fatty and high in calories, but they can also cause digestive issues due to their rich fat content. Eating high-fat meats can lead to more stomach discomfort and diarrhea.

2. Sugary Foods

When it comes to bariatric surgery, you must avoid sugary foods. Sugary foods can spike your blood sugar levels, which can cause weight gain and other health issues. Many of such foods are also high in calories and low in nutritional value. Examples of sugary foods to avoid include candy, cakes, pastries, cookies, ice cream, sodas, and other sugary drinks.

3. Alcohol

Gastric bypass involves a drastic change in how your body absorbs food and drinking alcohol after the procedure is not recommended. It can be challenging for your body to process the toxins in alcoholic beverages, which could lead to liver damage and serious health risks over time. Additionally, alcohol has a high-calorie content which can contribute to weight gain if you do not account for them in your daily caloric intake. If you choose to drink alcohol after gastric bypass, you must limit yourself to no more than 1-2 servings per day and avoid high-calorie beverages such as beer or wine coolers.

4. Dry Foods

Dry, crunchy foods are not recommended after gastric bypass surgery because they can be challenging to digest. Dry-roasted nuts, crackers, and pretzels should all be avoided, as these can create a blockage in the stomach or intestine. Additionally, some dry cereals, such as oatmeal, could cause nausea and vomiting if your stomach has not healed completely. Stick to softer, less processed foods that are easier to digest.

5. Caffeinated and Carbonated Beverages

Caffeinated and carbonated beverages should be avoided after gastric bypass surgery. This includes caffeinated coffee or tea, energy drinks, soda, and sparkling water. Caffeine can cause dehydration and increase the risk of dumping syndrome for those who have post-gastric bypass surgery. Carbonated beverages may cause bloating and discomfort.

6. Dairy Products

High-fat dairy products, such as ice cream and cheese, should be avoided after gastric bypass surgery. Dairy products are more likely to cause nausea, vomiting, and dumping syndrome due to their high-fat levels. Try to choose low-fat alternatives such as low-fat or non-dairy milk and yogurt. Also, many dairy products are high in sugar, so it is essential to read the nutrition labels carefully. Call Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital for the best Roux-en-Y in Maryland. We offer a range of surgical services with excellent outcomes and take every precaution to ensure safety and comfort. Our team will also provide comprehensive after-care instructions and advice regarding lifestyle changes.

Foods to Avoid After Gastric Bypass Surgery - What Foods Can You Not Eat (2024)

FAQs

Foods to Avoid After Gastric Bypass Surgery - What Foods Can You Not Eat? ›

Red meat that's tough or dry. Greasy, high fat foods. Heavily seasoned or spicy foods. Sugar alcohols, such as erythritol, glycerol, mannitol, sorbitol and xylitol.

Are there foods you can never eat after gastric bypass? ›

Red meat that's tough or dry. Greasy, high fat foods. Heavily seasoned or spicy foods. Sugar alcohols, such as erythritol, glycerol, mannitol, sorbitol and xylitol.

What foods make you dump after gastric bypass? ›

Foods that are high in sugar are likely to cause dumping syndrome. This is because high amounts of sugar draw more water into the small intestine and can move gastric contents faster. High fat foods can also cause dumping syndrome in some people.

What vegetables should I avoid after bariatric surgery? ›

Celery, corn, broccoli, cabbage, and asparagus are foods to definitely avoid in the early days. Over time, you may be able to tolerate these foods, but in the short term, eat cooked, soft vegetables with no skin.

Can you eat ice cream after gastric bypass? ›

Dairy Products. High-fat dairy products, such as ice cream and cheese, should be avoided after gastric bypass surgery. Dairy products are more likely to cause nausea, vomiting, and dumping syndrome due to their high-fat levels. Try to choose low-fat alternatives such as low-fat or non-dairy milk and yogurt.

Can you ever eat a full meal again after gastric bypass? ›

After about eight weeks on the gastric bypass diet, you can gradually return to eating firmer foods. Start with eating three meals a day, with each meal consisting of 1 to 1-1/2 cups of food. It's important to stop eating before you feel completely full.

What can you never do again after bariatric surgery? ›

Avoid the use of drinking straws, carbonated beverages, chewing gum and ice. They can introduce excess air into your surgically created pouch and cause discomfort. Avoid sugar, sugary foods and beverages, and fruit juices.

What is one of the top 3 causes of death after bariatric surgery? ›

Sixty three percent of these deaths occurred within 30-days of the initial bariatric surgery, 40% occurred after hospital discharge. Anastomotic leak was the most common underlying cause of death (36% of deaths), followed by pulmonary embolism (12%) and cardiac causes (9%).

What helps you poop after gastric bypass? ›

Relief for constipation after bariatric surgery

Also, try these tips to avoid constipation after bariatric surgery: Stay hydrated: Drink adequate fluids to help soften your stool. You should drink at least 48 ounces per day. Exercise: Take frequent short walks throughout the day, as tolerated.

What is the best meat to eat after bariatric surgery? ›

After that, your diet will be advanced to soft/pureed food for two to three weeks as healing takes place. Solid foods will then be added as tolerated. What are the best choices of protein? The best choices include eggs, low-fat cheese, low-fat cottage cheese, tofu, fish, other seafood, chicken, and turkey.

Why can't you eat salad after bariatric surgery? ›

Salads, with their raw fruits and vegetables, don't typically fit into the first three phases of the post-surgery diet. It's common to wait until the stabilization phase before incorporating salads into your meals. The adjustment period is essential, considering the changes in your digestive ability post-surgery.

Can I eat bananas after gastric bypass? ›

Bariatric Surgery patients are able to incorporate bananas and other fruits back into their diet at five to six weeks after surgery, as the stomach needs to slowly regain the strength to digest fibrous foods.

Can I ever eat pizza again after gastric bypass? ›

If you frequently enjoy a slice of pizza, you may wonder, 'When can I have pizza after gastric bypass surgery? ' Fortunately, you do not have to eliminate pizza from your diet forever after a bypass surgery, but you should wait for at least 6 weeks before you can comfortably enjoy your delicacy.

Can I ever eat pasta again after gastric bypass? ›

So, when can you eat pasta after gastric sleeve? The twelfth week marks the start of the last phase toward attaining your weight loss goal and will differ in length among individuals. You will start adding most of the foods into your diet, including all fruits and lean meat, and then… Pasta!

Can I eat mashed potatoes after gastric bypass? ›

Other food ideas include scrambled egg beaters or egg whites, canned chicken or salmon, tofu, ricotta cheese, sugar free yogurt, sugar free pudding, hot cereals (oatmeal, cream of wheat, cream of rice, grits), mashed winter squash or sweet potato, mashed potato, pureed soups.

Can you ever eat rice again after gastric bypass? ›

Weeks 5 to 6

Start adding soft foods and lumps to your diet. Ideas include minced or wafer thin meats, fish, cauliflower cheese, cottage cheese, canned or soft fruit, scrambled eggs, cooked vegetables, rice and pasta.

Why no bread after gastric bypass? ›

You should wait around six to eight weeks before eating bread again after your gastric surgery. This also goes for other starches like pasta, rice, and cookies. First of all, it'll be difficult to swallow. Secondly, it's a simple carbohydrate.

How much food can a stomach hold after gastric bypass? ›

After surgery, your stomach can only hold 2 to 4 tablespoons of food or drink. After about a year, it will expand to hold up to 16 tablespoons of food or drink. Because of its small size, you will need to eat and drink much less at any 1 meal than you did before surgery. You will also need to plan your meals carefully.

What are the restrictions after gastric bypass surgery? ›

Avoid sugar, sugar-containing foods and beverages, concentrated sweets and fruit juices. For the first two months following surgery, your calorie intake should be between 300 and 600 calories a day, with a focus on thin and thicker liquids. Daily caloric intake should not exceed 1,000 calories.

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