Nutritional Information

The gastric bypass diet is designed to bring about significant weight loss.
Learning new eating habits and following the diet correctly will help to maintain this weight loss over time.

In general, the gastric bypass diet includes foods that are high in protein, and low in fat, fibre, calories, and sugar. Important vitamins and minerals are provided as supplements.

Protein is the nutrient that the body uses to build new tissue.
It is important to get enough protein right after surgery, to make sure that wounds heal properly.
Over the long term, protein in the diet will help preserve muscle tissue, so that weight can be lost as fat instead.

Foods like lean red meat or pork, chicken or turkey without the skin, fish of almost any type, eggs, and cottage cheese are high in protein and low in fat.

The gastric bypass diet is low in sweet and sugary foods for three reasons.
(Sugary foods include sweets, biscuits, ice cream, milkshakes, fizzy drinks, sweetened juices and most desserts.)

1. These foods are high in calories and fat. Even in small amounts, they could make weight loss difficult.

2. Eating sweet or sugary foods promotes "dumping syndrome," a reaction which can occur after the gastric bypass operation. Experiencing the unpleasant symptoms of dumping may limit the desire to eat sweet foods.

3. Most sweet and sugary foods don't provide many vitamins or minerals for the calories they take up; and since calories are so limited on the gastric bypass diet, it is important that every food contribute its fair share of nutrients.

Fat may be difficult to digest after gastric bypass surgery. Too much fat delays emptying of the stomach and may cause reflux, (a back up of stomach acid and food into the oesophagus that causes heartburn).
Fat may also cause extreme nausea, diarrhoea, or stomach discomfort. High-fat, fried foods and fatty meats are common offenders.
 
Fibre, found in foods like bran, popcorn, raw vegetables, and dried beans, is also limited on the gastric bypass diet.
There is less space in the stomach to hold these bulky foods, and less gastric acid available to digest them. Some kinds of fibre could get stuck in the pouch itself, or block the narrow opening into the small intestine.
You should not take any laxatives without the advice of a Doctor.

Vitamins & Minerals are an important part of the gastric bypass diet.

Since the diet allows only small amounts of a limited variety of foods, it may be difficult to get enough vitamins and minerals from food alone. Deficiencies can develop in a matter of months.
Iron, folate, vitamin B-12, and calcium are the nutrients most affected.
Most surgeons require their gastric bypass patients to take a multivitamin / mineral supplement as an ongoing daily habit for the rest of your life.