Gastric Band Surgery Diet !
Diet is an important aspect after any surgery and when it comes to laparoscopic adjustable gastric band, it becomes most important to follow the post operative gastric band surgery diet in order to avoid severe complications like band slippage or erosion. The complete period is divided in different phases or time frame for easy understanding of the diet plan for the lap band patients.
The first few days after gastric band surgery are quite crucial and the patient has to take only liquid diet like water. The patient should avoid coffee and tea as it contains caffeine. Moreover, carbonated beverages like soda should be strictly avoided for the first three months after lap band surgery, as it causes excessive gas resulting in bloating and increase in the size of stomach.
The second phase starts after 5 to 6 weeks of surgery and the patient is fed on semi liquid diet. It consists of protein shake, soups, fruit juice and baby food that should be given thrice a day. Gradually, the patient can digest tenderly cooked food that has been well minced in the food processor such as meat, protein in any form vegetables and salads. Patient undergoing gastric band surgery should avoid food rich in carbohydrate and starch such as bread, potatoes and few veggies.
After gastric band surgery, the patient should not be given a heavy meal as the stomach is unable to hold much food and hence the complete meal should be divided into 3 to 4 small meals to be taken at regular time interval for easy digestion. Patients undergoing adjustable gastric band surgery should be given around 50 grams of protein per day in order to prevent protein deficiency. Moreover the patient should never consume food in haste rather should eat every bite very slowly.
Spicy, fried and processed food should be strictly avoided as it is difficult to digest for the patients undergoing lap band surgery. Some foods that need to be avoided as gastric band surgery diet are vegetables rich in fiber like sweet potatoes and celery, fruits like grapes and nuts, spices like pepper, cinnamon and garlic. In some cases it has been seen that lap band patients are unable to digest milk so as a substitute, other milk products like cottage cheese can be given as a supplement for calcium and protein. Along with above mentioned diet little exercise is important for easy and proper digestion.