Post-surgical Diet Modification

If you have not been able to control your weight through diet and exercise, and have elected to undergo weight loss surgery after careful consideration and evaluation by Dr. Nowzaradan, you will still find that your post-surgery diet will need to be modified. Weight loss surgery may address the mechanics of how much food you will need in order to feel full, or how much of the nutrients and calories are absorbed into your system, but the surgery does not control your own post-surgical behavior. Those procedures that are strictly restrictive (Lap Band System®, Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy) may not have much effect on how you feel when eating certain foods, but they will effect how much food you need in order to feel full. Because you will be eating less, you must make the best use of your caloric intake as possible. Procedures that utilize a malabsorptive function, the Roux-en Y Gastric Bypass for instance, alters the anatomy of your digestive system thereby changing the way your body manages food and how your digestive system reacts to the types of food you eat. With the Roux-en Y Gastric Bypass, important parts of your digestive system are bypassed, which disrupts the normal functioning of the digestive system. The post surgical diet for an individual who has undergone a Roux-en Y Gastric Bypass should generally be low in simple sugars and carbohydrates and high in protein. You may need to avoid dairy products and acidic foods. Vitamin and mineral supplements are typically required. We Are Here to Help

Dr. Nowzaradan and his staff will supply you with detailed information regarding your specific post-surgical dietary needs. In additional, you may find our regular Support Group meetings are an opportunity to discuss your issues with others who share your concerns. This is often the arena where many unique and inventive solutions are discovered. Whatever your goal is, nutrition is instrumental in achieving or maintaining it. You need a healthy diet to help you lose weight and keep your body in top shape to perform all the things you do in a day. The following chart illustrates guidelines established by the USDA’s latest dietary recommendations.





Men Women

Men should eat six or seven one-ounce servings of grains per day. Whole grains are an important source of fiber and a healthy diet, so least three of the servings should be from whole grains. Be sure to read package labels to make sure the product is made from whole grains. One serving is equal to one slice of bread, one cup of breakfast cereal, one-half cup of pasta, cooked rice, or cooked cereal. Sources for whole grains include brown rice, whole grain bread and pasta, buckwheat, oatmeal, wild rice, quinoa, amaranth, and spelt products. Women should eat five or six one-ounce servings of grains per day. Whole grains are an important source of fiber and a healthy diet, so least three of the servings should be from whole grains. Be sure to read package labels to make sure the product is made from whole grains. One serving is equal to one slice of bread, one cup of breakfast cereal, one-half cup of pasta, cooked rice, or cooked cereal. Sources for whole grains include brown rice, whole grain bread and pasta, buckwheat, oatmeal, wild rice, quinoa, amaranth, and spelt products.

Men should consume about three cups of dairy products, or milk-alternatives each day because dairy products are an important source of calcium. Low fat or no fat dairy products are the best choice. If you choose not to consume dairy products, alternative calcium sources include sardines, tofu, and calcium-fortified foods. One serving is equal to one cup of milk, one cup of yogurt, one and one-half ounces of cheese. Sources for milk and dairy products include milk, yogurt, cheese, and sour cream. These products can come from cows, goats, or sheep. Women should consume about three cups of dairy products, or milk-alternatives each day because dairy products are an important source of calcium. Low fat or no fat dairy products are the best choice. If you choose not to consume dairy products, alternative calcium sources include sardines, tofu, and calcium-fortified foods. One serving is equal to one cup of milk, one cup of yogurt, one and one-half ounces of cheese. Sources for milk and dairy products include milk, yogurt, cheese, and sour cream. These products can come from cows, goats, or sheep.

Most men need about six to eight ounces of meat, legumes or other protein sources per day. Low fat meats and other protein sources are needed to provide protein and a variety of other nutrients. It is important to realize that many meats are high in saturated fat, which you don't want, and other proteins like fish and sea food are high in omega-3 fatty acids that you do want. According to the USDA, one serving is equal to one-half ounce. Other sources consider two ounces to be one serving size. Sources for proteins include meats, poultry, fish, seafood, dry beans, nuts, and seeds. Most women need about four to six ounces of meat, legumes or other protein sources per day. Low fat meats and other protein sources are needed to provide protein and a variety of other nutrients. It is important to realize that many meats are high in saturated fat, which we don't want, and other proteins like fish and sea food are high in omega-3 fatty acids that we do want. According to the USDA, one serving is equal to one-half ounce. Other sources consider two ounces to be one serving size. Sources for proteins include meats, poultry, fish, seafood, dry beans, nuts, and seeds.

Men need to consume healthy fats every day. Fats are an important source of essential fatty acids, vitamin E. It is important to consume sufficient omega-3 fatty acids found in fish and flax, and to reduce consumption of saturated fat found in red meats, trans-fat and hydrogenated oils found in processed foods. One serving is equal to one teaspoon. Men need up to nine servings of healthy fats per day, which are already found in much of the food we eat. Sources for healthy fats include fish, flax, seeds, nuts, vegetable oils like olive oil, peanut oil, and safflower oil. Women need to consume healthy fats every day. Fats are an important source of essential fatty acids, vitamin E. It is important to consume sufficient omega-3 fatty acids found in fish and flax, and to reduce consumption of saturated fat found in red meats, and trans fat or hydrogenated oils found in processed foods. One serving is equal to one teaspoon. Women need up to seven servings of healthy fats per day, which are already found in much of the food we eat. Sources for healthy fats include fish, flax, seeds, nuts, vegetable oils like olive oil, peanut oil, and safflower oil.

Men need five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables per day. Dark green and brightly colored fruits and vegetables contain many antioxidants and bioflavonoids in addition to vitamins, minerals, and fiber. One serving is equal to one-half cup for a starchy vegetable such as potatoes or corn, and two cups for a dark green low-starch vegetable like broccoli or leafy greens. One fruit serving is typically equal to one small to medium sized fruit or one-half cup berries. Sources for fruits and vegetables include dark green and brightly colored vegetables, potatoes, sweet potatoes, beans, peas, carrots, apples, oranges, peaches, bananas, etc. Calorie counts vary significantly, so keep track of calories. Women need five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables per day. Dark green and brightly colored fruits and vegetables contain many antioxidants and bioflavonoids in addition to vitamins, minerals, and fiber. One serving is equal to one-half cup for a starchy vegetable such as potatoes or corn, and two cups for a dark green low-starch vegetable like broccoli or leafy greens. One fruit serving is typically equal to one small to medium sized fruit or one-half cup berries. Sources for fruits and vegetables include dark green and brightly colored vegetables, potatoes, sweet potatoes, beans, peas, carrots, apples, oranges, peaches, bananas, etc. Calorie counts vary significantly, so keep track of calories.







Sugar and sweets add excess calories and very little nutrition. Men do not require any sugar to be consumed on a daily basis. One serving is equal to one teaspoon. Sources for sugar and sweets include soft drinks, candy, pastries, all sugars, syrups, honey, and molasses. Sugar and sweets add excess calories and very little nutrition. Women do not require any sugar to be consumed on a daily basis. One serving is equal to one teaspoon. Sources for sugar and sweets include soft drinks, candy, pastries, all sugars, syrups, honey, and molasses.









Men need about 25 to 35 grams of fiber for general good health and to help maintain a healthy digestive system and healthy cholesterol levels. Serving size depends on the food group that is the source of fiber. Sources for fiber include whole grains, whole fruits, and vegetables. Women need about 20 to 25 grams of fiber for general good health and to help maintain a healthy digestive system and healthy cholesterol levels. Serving size depends on the food group that is the source of fiber. Sources for fiber include whole grains, whole fruits, and vegetables.