Why Food Gets Stuck After Bariatric Surgery
Adjusting to food tolerance after bariatric surgery can be challenging as your digestive system undergoes significant changes. These changes support weight loss but can also affect how your body processes food, making it important to adopt new eating habits.
What Does the Stomach Do for Digestion?
Your stomach plays a critical role in digestion by churning food with gastric juices into a semi-liquid form called chyme before surgery. This process makes nutrients more accessible for absorption as the food moves through your digestive tract.
After bariatric surgery, regardless of the procedure, your stomach no longer has the same capacity to churn food. Instead, you must take over much of this role through mindful eating.
Why This Matters
- Reduced stomach size, which limits food intake and changes how food is processed.
- Slowed digestion, without the churning action of the stomach, foods that are not thoroughly chewed can cause discomfort or blockages.
- Increased importance of chewing, to assist in breaking food down. You must chew food thoroughly, to applesauce consistency, and eat slowly to prevent any discomfort.
Short-Term Food Tolerance Issues After Bariatric Surgery
After surgery, it’s normal to experience temporary difficulties with certain foods. Remember, your body is adjusting to a smaller stomach and a new way of digesting food.
Common Challenges
- Nausea and vomiting may occur as your stomach adapts to its smaller size.
- Vomiting should not occur frequently, if you are struggling please contact your medical provider.
- Additionally, dense proteins like chicken or fibrous vegetables can be hard to tolerate at first.
When to Adjust Your Eating Approach
It’s common to struggle with food tolerance during the initial recovery period, especially as you progress from liquids to solids. However, if you notice consistent discomfort or trouble tolerating a certain food, it may be time to pause and reassess your diet.
Reset with Liquids: If tolerance becomes an issue, consider stepping back to clear or full liquids for 12-24 hours. Also, products like Clearly Protein and High Protein Meal Replacements can help maintain your nutritional needs while giving your digestive system a break.
Strategies for Management
- Follow the Dietary Progression: Begin with clear liquids, progressing to full liquids, pureed foods, and soft solids before moving to regular textures. Be sure to progress slowly to avoid overwhelming your stomach.
- Eat Slowly and Chew Thoroughly: Take dime-sized bites, chewing each piece until it reaches the consistency of applesauce. Since your stomach no longer churns food, your mouth must take on this role.
- Introduce Foods Gradually: Test one new food at a time to monitor tolerance and identify potential triggers.
- Stay Hydrated: Dehydration can exacerbate food tolerance issues. Sip water throughout the day but avoid drinking during meals to prevent overfilling your stomach.
- Track Your Progress: In addition, use the Baritastic app to log meals and fluids, monitor your tolerance, and find inspiration from bariatric-friendly recipes.
Why Are These Foods Hard to Digest After Bariatric Surgery?
For some, food tolerance challenges persist beyond the first-year post-surgery. However, certain foods may remain difficult to digest and need extra care while eating.
Proteins like chicken, beef, or pork may feel too dense and require thorough chewing and added moisture. Similarly, dry or fibrous foods such as bread, rice, broccoli stems, or raw vegetables may create blockages or discomfort if not properly chewed. Lastly, fatty or fried foods can cause nausea or discomfort due to increased sensitivity post-surgery, especially without a gallbladder.
How to Stop Food from Getting Stuck
- Modify Cooking Methods
- To improve tolerance, use moist cooking techniques such as baking with broth, steaming, or slow cooking.
- Additionally, adding low-fat sauces or gravies can help enhance moisture and make foods easier to digest.
- Practice Mindful Eating
- Take small bites, chew thoroughly, and eat slowly to allow for easier digestion.
- Reintroduce Foods Gradually
- If you’ve struggled with a specific food, reintroduce it alongside known safe foods.
- For example:
- Pair 2-3 bites of chicken with a well-tolerated side like beans or mashed sweet potatoes.
- Do not eat more than 5-10, dime-sized bites, of the food that you struggle with.
- Chew each bite thoroughly and evaluate how you feel after 30 minutes.
- Gradually increase the portion of the difficult food over several meals as you build your tolerance back up.
- Keep a Food Diary
- Track foods you eat and note any patterns with intolerances.
- Consult a Registered Dietitian
- Work with a bariatric nutrition specialist to develop personalized strategies and find alternative options for problem foods.
Additionally, we offer a free virtual support group with a variety of educational topics. Join us on our next one to gain more practical tips for your life after bariatric surgery.
Improve Tolerance with Bariatric Friendly Protein Recipes
Leftover Options: Use leftovers in a chicken salad with light mayo, wrap in a low-carb/high-fiber tortilla, or mix into scrambled eggs and top with avocado for a high-protein breakfast.
Leftover Tips: Add meatballs to a vegetable soup, slice for a high-protein sandwich, or pair with zucchini noodles for a bariatric-friendly pasta dish.
Leftover Ideas: Use beef tips in a stir-fry with steamed vegetables, add to a wrap with low-fat cheese, or mix into scrambled eggs for a savory breakfast.
Practical Eating Tips for Tolerance Issues After Bariatric Surgery
- Experiment with Temperatures: While some patients find warm foods easier to tolerate, others prefer cold options.
- Hydrate Smartly: Sip water throughout the day, avoiding drinks during meals to maximize pouch space for nutrition.
- Incorporate High-Moisture Foods: Add foods like peeled cucumbers, watermelon, and/or marinades and sauces to increase moisture during meals.
- Use the Baritastic App: Log meals, find recipes, and track your protein and fluid intake to stay on track.
When to Seek Professional Help
Persistent food intolerance is not something you should navigate alone. Contact your healthcare provider if:
- You experience ongoing nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain
- You struggle to eat more than 3-4 ounces of dense protein per meal (if you’re more than 12 months post-operative).
- Your food intolerance leads to significant weight loss or nutritional deficiencies.
- You struggle to meet your daily protein or calorie needs.
Food tolerance issues after bariatric surgery are a normal part of the journey. However, by understanding your body’s signals and implementing these strategies, you can overcome these obstacles and enjoy a balanced, nourishing diet.
Remember to seek support from your healthcare team to tailor solutions to your unique needs—your journey to better health is worth it!
This content is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individuals should always consult with their healthcare professional for advice on medical issues.
References
- Livingston E, et al (2022). Food intake following gastric bypass. Journal of Bariatric Surgery, 25(4), 123-134.
- Smith J, et al (2023). Comparison of food tolerance among bariatric surgery patients. Bariatric Science Review, 18(2), 56-67.
