Introduction
The surgical performance of a gastric bypass is a significant intervention is the system of digestion. By bypassing the stomach, which on the one hand is a first reservoir for the food we take in and on the other hand is an important station for the digestion of our food components, there are noticeable changes in the digestive process, which can also lead to changes in the bowel movements and even sometimes to complaints. This makes it all the more important to pay attention to the one or other special feature of the diet after a gastric bypass in order to counteract this from the outset.
Why do you need to adjust your diet?
In a gastric bypass, the stomach is intentionally bypassed to serve as a collection reservoir and first digestive station. The ingested food is led directly into the small intestine via a small, standing residual stomach (stomach pouch), the digestive juices of the blindly closed, left stomach are only supplied in a somewhat deeper section of the small intestine. This means that not all food components can be broken down and absorbed, since a considerable part of this process already takes place in the stomach and duodenum.
As a result, on the one hand, less energy sources such as protein, carbohydrates and fats are absorbed, but on the other hand the absorption of vitamins, minerals and trace elements also suffers. It should therefore be ensured that sufficient calories are taken in with the food, if necessary a substitution of vitamins or for example iron should be made. In addition, dumping syndromes can be counteracted by deliberately eating several small meals that prevent the digestive system from overloading and simulate “portioning” of the stomach.
How should I feed myself after a gastric bypass?
Because the digestive juices from the stomach, gall bladder (bile) and pancreas (digestive enzymes) only come into contact with food later than usual, some food components can only be split and absorbed through the intestinal mucosa if at all. This results in a loss of food components that are lost via the stool. It is therefore important to make sure that the diet after a gastric bypass ensures that sufficient calories are consumed from the outset, i.e. that the requirement for proteins, carbohydrates and fats is well covered.
The diet should therefore be high in protein and contain a low proportion of carbohydrates that can be quickly absorbed. It may be necessary to resort to a protein-rich supplementary diet. In the same way, care should be taken to ensure a sufficient intake of vitamins, trace elements and minerals, although this is not always possible without problems, so that additional intake of multivitamin preparations or iron tablets may be necessary. In cases of pronounced deficiency, vitamins and iron can also be administered via the vein.
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