Eating after bowel surgery: recommended diet

The pathologies of the digestive tract are very insidious. If you do not follow the instructions of the attending physician and do not lead a correct lifestyle, there is a high risk of complications that require surgery. Medical nutrition after surgery on the intestines and other digestive organs is an integral part of the recovery scheme.

Diet indications

The postoperative stage involves a number of measures aimed at normalizing the intestinal activity. The most dangerous are the first 3 months after surgery. Immunity is very weakened during this period, so the body needs additional amounts of vitamins and minerals. A balanced diet, adjusted to take into account the specific characteristics of the patient, plays a special role.

The medical menu is prescribed for the following diseases, for the elimination of which surgery was undertaken:

• Crohn's disease;
• ulcers;
• intestinal obstruction;
• polyps;
• tumors.

The nutritional regimen is determined by the degree of complexity of the involved surgical procedures and the quality of the chair of the operated patient. In the postoperative phase, with severe pain in the intestines, it is possible to enter food intravenously.

Allowed and not recommended foods after bowel surgery

The main goal of nutritional therapy is to stop the patient's painful sensations. A well-chosen diet helps the digestive organs to do their job painlessly. After switching to a diet, stool gradually normalizes, and discomfort in the abdominal zone disappears.

Table 1. Approved and not recommended products

Can	It is forbidden
fresh vegetables; non-acidic fruit varieties; blueberry; fat-free curd products; crackers; potato; bran; low-fat types of cheese; oat and rice porridge; flaxseeds; vegetable juices; water without gas; Black tea.	sour fruits; pickles; ice cream; chocolate; nuts; spicy dishes; White cabbage; tomatoes; canned food; smoked meats; mushrooms; sausage products; soups cooked in meat or fish broths; carbonated and alcoholic drinks; legumes; pastry products; asparagus.

It is important to stick to your diet for 3 weeks after surgery. Still water, up to 3 liters daily, will help prevent dehydration.

Heat treatment rules

Products on the approved list must be handled accordingly. Of the existing methods, boiling and steaming are allowed.

Adding is a modification of cooking, which makes it possible to preserve the beneficial properties of food. The product is placed 1/3 in burning water, the remaining 2/3 are boiled under steam, pressing the lid tightly. Juicy vegetables and fruits are allowed to simmer without using liquid. They languish in their own juice, which is formed during heating.

Heat treatment promotes high-quality assimilation of food and the death of harmful microorganisms. Improper preparation of dietary meals leads to the formation of substances with a carcinogenic effect. High temperatures should be avoided: 100 ° C is optimal. For vegetables, it is recommended to use a temperature below 60 ° C, otherwise vitamin C is destroyed.

Steam cooking is the leading processing method for therapeutic diets. For this purpose, it is necessary to use steamers with a well-closing lid. A grid is placed at the bottom of the container for laying out the products and a small amount of water is poured. During the boil, the dishes are filled with steam, which perfectly retains the shape and structure of the food. Ready meals are juicy and do not lose elements useful for the body.

Stages of the postoperative diet

Health food in the postoperative period consists of 3 stages. Each stage involves the use of different products and cooking methods.

Table 2. Diet stages

Stage	Number of meals	Serving volume, g	Cooking temperature, ° С	Food consistency
1. 3 days	8	300	45	Liquid
2. 3 days	6	400	45	Rubbed
3. Until full recovery	5	500	100	Liquid and jelly

At the first stage, it is advisable not to salt the food; at the next stage, it is allowed to use 5 g of salt per day. The last stage involves the expansion of cooking methods: it is allowed to bake products, but without the formation of a crust. In some cases, you should refrain from eating on the first day after surgery. The gastrointestinal tract may take time to adjust to work in the new environment.

Refilling the diet after bowel surgery

Specialists have developed a 1-week menu that helps patients recover as quickly as possible. Depending on the physical characteristics of the patient, these steps can be prolonged or shortened.

Table 3. Stage # 1

Day	1 breakfast	2 breakfast	3 breakfast	Dinner	Afternoon snack	1 dinner	2 dinner	Before bedtime
1, 2.	100 grams of sweet black tea; 100 gr compote.	150 gr compote.	250 grams of chicken broth.	200 grams of fruit jelly; 200 g of rosehip drink.	150 gr of sweet tea.	200 grams of rice water; 150 g of jelly.	200 g of rosehip drink.	150 gr compote.

Table 4. Stage 2

Day	1 breakfast	2 breakfast	Dinner	Afternoon snack	Dinner	Before bedtime
1, 2.	200 grams of buckwheat porridge; 2 egg omelet; 100 gr of sweet tea with lemon.	150 gr non-fat cream; 150 g of rosehip drink.	250 grams of chicken broth with oatmeal; 100 grams of steamed meat; 150 gr compote.	1 soft-boiled egg; 150 grams of jelly; 150 gr rosehip drink	150 grams of steamed fish; 200 grams of liquid oatmeal in chicken broth; 100 gr of sweet tea with lemon.	200 g of jelly; 150 g of rosehip drink.

Table 5. Stage 3

Day	1 breakfast	2 breakfast	Dinner	Afternoon snack	Dinner
1.	1 boiled egg; 250 grams of rice porridge with milk; 150 gr of sweet tea.	1 baked apple with a little sugar; 200 g of soybean jelly.	300 grams of oatmeal soup in chicken broth; 100 grams of steamed meatballs; 150 gr carrot puree; 150 grams of fruit mousse.	2 egg omelet; 200 g of rosehip drink; 100 grams of croutons.	250 gr of boiled fish in sour cream sauce; 150 gr mashed potatoes; 200 gr of sweet tea with milk.
2.	1 soft-boiled egg; 250 grams of buckwheat porridge; 100 grams of grated cheese; 200 gr of sweet tea with cream.	150 grams of cottage cheese mixed with sour cream; 100 grams of croutons; 250 g of rosehip drink.	100 grams of soaked herring; 250 gr noodles soup and potatoes in chicken broth; 150 grams of steamed lean meat with vegetables; 250 gr of dried fruit compote.	100 gr liver pate; 150 grams of wheat bran broth; 50 grams of oatmeal cookies.	100 grams of boiled tongue; 150 gr of boiled fish with a vegetable side dish; 150 gr carrot and apple roll; 1 cheesecake; 150 gr of sweet tea with lemon.
3.	150 grams of buckwheat porridge; 2 egg omelet; 200 gr of sweet black tea with milk.	100 grams of steamed meatballs; 1 baked apple.	250 gr of barley porridge soup in chicken broth with vegetables; 150 gr of steamed meat cutlets; 100 g carrot puree; 250 gr of dried fruit compote.	200 grams of curd pudding.	150 grams of boiled fish; 200 gr mashed potatoes; 150 grams of steamed meatloaf; 200 gr of sweet black tea.

The diet has a positive effect on the functioning of the digestive tract and has no contraindications. It is necessary to strictly adhere to each stage. Skipping any stage is fraught with the following complications:

• acute pain in the abdominal area;
• diarrhea;
• bloating of the abdomen;
• nausea;
• fainting;
• vomit;
• exhaustion.

The occurrence of any side effects is corrected by the transition to the early stages of nutritional therapy. Subject to all the rules for several weeks, the patient returns to his usual lifestyle.

Features of a lipid-lowering diet

The purpose of this nutritional system is to stabilize weight, reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood, and improve the functioning of the digestive system.

The main principle of the diet is variety. It is intended for continuous use and does not imply severe nutritional restrictions. Great as a daily diet after a strict health-care diet.

Features of a lipid-lowering diet:

• fractional meals, 5 to 6 times a day in small portions;
• drinking at least 2 liters of still water every day;
• emphasis on representatives of the family of cereals and fruits and berries with a high fiber content, at least 400 grams per day;
• reducing the amount of animal fat consumed;
• the main source of protein is poultry, cottage cheese and low-fat fish;
• moderate use of dairy products;
• the number of yolks is 3 pieces for 7 days;
• it is advisable to steam meat products;
• inclusion of seaweed and seafood in the diet;
• the permissible daily amount of bread is 200 grams, which is equal to 2 medium pieces.

You need to have dinner a few hours before going to bed, giving preference to protein dishes.

Table 6. List of Recommended and Prohibited Products

Can	It is forbidden
dill, basil and parsley; marine fish, including the salmon family; seaweed; vegetable oil; garlic; oatmeal; dried fruits; compotes and juices prepared without the use of sugar; vegetables, fruits and berries with peel.	dairy products with a fat content of more than 5%; any offal; chocolate; caviar; fatty meat and smoked meats; red poultry meat; sugar; cocoa; margarine and other fats, including lard; fatty meat broths; sturgeon; carbonated drinks; bread made from first-class flour; confectionery and baked goods; coffee; honey; alcohol and beer.

Approximate diet for 3 days

It is allowed to swap the indicated dishes and skip intermediate meals. It is also possible to replace products with analog ones with the same calorie content.

Day 1:

1. Breakfast - cheese cakes and 1 glass of freshly squeezed juice.
2. Second breakfast - fruit salad of persimmons, apples and pears.
3. Lunch - steamed chicken fillet and boiled rice with a vegetable side dish.
4. Afternoon snack - 2 slices of bread and 1 baked apple.
5. Dinner - vegetable salad and red fish baked with lemon and basil.

Day 2:

1. Breakfast - low-fat omelet and tomato salad with herbs.
2. Second breakfast - vegetable salad with apple cider vinegar.
3. Lunch - a soup of potatoes and carrots in a light broth, Greek salad and 1 slice of bread.
4. Afternoon snack - low-fat yogurt with jam.
5. Dinner - boiled fish fillet with mashed potatoes.

Day 3:

1. Breakfast - wheat porridge cooked with pumpkin.
2. Second breakfast - 1 boiled soft-boiled egg and a slice of bread.
3. Lunch - steamed veal and vinaigrette.
4. Afternoon snack - 2 bananas.
5. Dinner - pasta with stewed chicken.

Daily 2 liters of water must be broken into 8 glasses and drunk either 30 minutes before a meal, or 1 hour after a meal. If you feel hungry before going to bed, you can quench it with 1 glass of kefir with a low percentage of fat, 1 carrot or a small apple. If your body requires sweets, you can consume sugar-free jelly, low-calorie crackers, oatmeal cookies, or dried fruit several times a week.

Any surgical intervention is a great stress for the body. The operation is fraught with disturbances in metabolic and digestive processes, therefore, in the postoperative period, the patient must strictly adhere to a therapeutic diet. It will help you get enough nutrients and restore the functioning of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract.

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