| Nutrition Before A Gastric Bypass Surgery
If an individual is morbidly obese, a gastric bypass surgery may be an option. In fact, it is becoming more and more common as a means to treat medical obesity among teenagers and adults, especially if they have gone through several other weight loss options that did not work.
However, just because gastric bypass surgery is meant to permanently trim off those pounds doesn't mean one should be concerned about his or her diet only after the procedure has been completed. Gastric bypass surgery is generally safe, however the long operating room hours do increase the risks, so health care providers encourage candidates to be in optimum health prior to undergoing the surgery. Good health can be achieved by proper nutrition, exercise (if the individual is capable) and no smoking or consuming alcohol.
Being obese does not mean the excess calories make up for the nutrients the body needs to perform its most crucial system functions. Prior to a gastric bypass surgery, one's doctor will recommend a strict low-calorie, high-protein diet.
To get ready for gastric surgery, a candidate must get started this particular diet at least two weeks before the procedure. Liquid protein diet supplements or a conventional low-calorie diet are other options to achieve the pre-operative goal that is to 1) help the candidate shed at least 10-15 pounds, and 2) minimize complications.
A high protein and low-calorie diet helps to decrease liver size so that it does not get in the way of the operation. The restricted calorie diet also helps the candidate make a change in his or her eating habits and preferences which will be crucial after he or she has had the surgery.
If the doctor has not prescribed a full-liquid protein diet, then daily food choices that are rich in protein can suffice. However, the trick is to count their calories meticulously. Therefore, it pays to consider the way a particular food is cooked and how much of it is consumed per meal. Meats are a leading source of protein, but one cannot have just any meat. Lean meats such as turkey, chicken breast and fish are good choices. Beans, eggs, low-fat dairy, grains and some leafy vegetables offer good quality protein as well.
To facilitate preparing the body for gastric bypass, the candidate is also encouraged to drink plenty of water to flush toxins and perform regular but gentle exercises to keep the cardiovascular system active during and even after the surgery.
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