Liquid Diet Before Bariatric Surgery: A Complete Guide
Written by: Laura Arantegui / Date: 19-04-24 / Reading 5 Minutes
Proper preparation for bariatric surgery is essential to optimize outcomes and reduce risks.
In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the importance of the preoperative liquid diet, its key benefits, reasons behind its implementation, essential vitamins needed, sample recipes and practical tips to follow this process effectively.
Table of Contents
- Importance of the preoperative liquid diet in bariatric surgeries.
- 2. Key benefits of the liquid diet before surgery.
- 3. Why liquid diet before bariatric surgery?
- 4. Examples of recipes that we can cook.
- 5. Tips for following a liquid diet before bariatric surgery.
Importance of the preoperative liquid diet in bariatric surgery
The liquid diet before bariatric surgery plays a crucial role in preparing the body for the procedure. It is designed to reduce the amount of fat in the liver, facilitate surgical access and minimize the risk of complications during and after the operation.
Key benefits of the liquid diet before surgery
- Liver fat reduction: Facilitates surgery by reducing the size of the liver and improving visibility during the procedure.
- Preoperative weight loss: Helps to lose weight before surgery, which can reduce the risk of complications and improve long-term results.
- Adaptation to the change in eating habits: It mentally prepares the patient for the changes in eating habits after surgery.
Why liquid diet before bariatric surgery?
- Preparing the body: The preoperative liquid diet for bariatric patients prepares the body for the progression diet to be carried out after surgery. This progression diet is composed of different phases, where you start with a liquid diet until you reach a solid diet.
- Reduced risks and complications: By reducing fat in the liver, the risks of complications during surgery, such as excessive bleeding and injury to surrounding organs, are minimized. In addition, prior weight loss helps reduce the incidence of postoperative complications.
- Vitamins and minerals essential for preoperative bariatric surgery: Although we may not believe it, before surgery we may have vitamin and mineral deficiencies, which must be covered before surgery to prevent possible complications, so it is very important to make use of a multivitamin and multimineral supplement.
Examples of recipes we can cook
- Protein shakes, ice creams or smoothies: in our blog you can find these protein recipes using seasonal fruits, high protein foods such as yogurts, milk or skim milk cheese and making use of our protein supplement.
- Homemade broths: vegetable broths or defatted chicken or fish broths.
- Baked apple or pear: it is a very easy recipe that consists of baking the baked apple or pear and we can accompany it with cinnamon.
- Purees: we can elaborate an infinite number of combinations with seasonal vegetables and add protein foods such as eggs, chicken or fish.
Tips for following a liquid diet before bariatric surgery
Stay hydrated and nourished.
- Hydration: Maintain adequate hydration with water, broth or unsweetened herbal teas.
- Supplements: it is very important to have an adequate intake of vitamins, minerals and proteins before surgery. In addition to an adequate caloric intake that sometimes it is not possible to cover with food and, therefore, supplements must be used.
Management of hunger and cravings.
- Distract yourself: Keep your mind busy to minimize feelings of hunger.
- Emotional support: Share your experiences with friends and family for support during this period.
By following this comprehensive preoperative liquid diet guide, patients can optimize their health status prior to bariatric surgery, contributing to a safer operative process and a faster, more effective recovery. As always, consult with your medical team to tailor these recommendations to your specific needs.
Bibliographic references
1. Martínez-Ortega AJ, Olveira G, Pereira-Cunill JL, Arraiza-Irigoyen C, García-Almeida JM, Irles Rocamora JA, Molina-Puerta MJ, Molina Soria JB, Rabat-Restrepo JM, Rebollo-Pérez MI, Serrano-Aguayo MP, Tenorio-Jiménez C, Vílches-López FJ, García-Luna PP. Recommendations Based on Evidence by the Andalusian Group for Nutrition Reflection and Investigation (GARIN) for the Pre- and Postoperative Management of Patients Undergoing Obesity Surgery. Nutrients. 2020 Jul 6;12(7):2002. doi: 10.3390/nu12072002. PMID: 32640531; PMCID: PMC7400832.
2. Faria SL, Faria OP, de Almeida Cardeal M, Ito MK. Effects of a very low calorie diet in the preoperative stage of bariatric surgery: a randomized trial. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2015 Jan-Feb;11(1):230-7. doi: 10.1016/j.soard.2014.06.007. Epub 2014 Jul 23. PMID: 25543310.
3. Giordano S, Victorzon M. The impact of preoperative weight loss before laparoscopic gastric bypass. Obes Surg. 2014 May;24(5):669-74. doi: 10.1007/s11695-013-1165-y. PMID: 24357128.
4. Bettini S, Belligoli A, Fabris R, Busetto L. Diet approach before and after bariatric surgery. Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2020 Sep;21(3):297-306. doi: 10.1007/s11154-020-09571-8. Erratum in: Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2020 Dec;21(4):449. doi: 10.1007/s11154-020-09583-4. PMID: 32734395; PMCID: PMC7455579.
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