Bariatric Protein Requirements

A diet rich in protein is essential before and after bariatric surgery.pork meat image by Maria Brzostowska from Fotolia.com

If you are planning to get bariatric surgery, it is vital to maintain a diet high in protein both before and after your procedure. Protein is essential in order to help the body heal after surgery and prevent too much muscle loss. There is a threat of the body using muscle tissue for energy instead of excess fat after the surgery, therefore, you should take in anywhere from 55 to 120 grams of protein per day.

Further Importance of Protein

Protein is not only necessary to help prevent muscle loss due to the restricted diet you must adhere to after surgery, but it also contributes to faster wound healing. As noted by Dr. Jacqueline Jacques, proteins are one of the "essential building blocks of the human body." As such, they help form hormones, immune system antibodies and enzymes that keep your body functioning properly. Furthermore, adequate amounts of protein will help support your metabolism and curb hunger so that you lose weight more quickly. Proteins can also aid in preventing hair loss after your surgery. Dr. Jacques also cautions that proteins with higher amounts of essential amino acids provide better nutrition, and thus proteins from animal sources may be more beneficial than those from plant sources.

A typical pre-operative diet can range from 800 to 1200 calories per day, and some of the typical goals of the pre-operative diet include losing fat around the liver and stomach and shrinking the size of the liver. A lower calorie diet that is high in protein will allow the body to burn that excess fat more efficiently and avoid burning muscle. A pre-operative diet will usually include 70 to 120 daily grams of protein.

Because you will likely be given a liquid only meal plan for the first two to three weeks after surgery, your protein may come exclusively from supplemental drinks and powders. As noted by Duke Medicine, after the three week period of liquids, you will advance to soft foods for the next six to eight weeks and slowly transition to foods of regular consistency over the next six to nine months. For the liquid diet, you should drink a high protein liquid nutrition supplement with at least 13 grams of protein in an eight ounce serving and no more than 15 to 20 grams of sugar. It will become easier to incorporate protein into your diet as you move on to soft and then solid foods; however, throughout your entire post-operative diet plan you should attempt to consume 40 to 60 grams of protein every day.

For the liquid phase of your diet, Dr. Jacques recommends beef or chicken stock during the clear liquid portion. Some other beneficial liquids include skim milk, Ensure High Protein and Boost. Your options, of course, widen once you progress through the soft and solid food phases. For instance, Duke Medicine recommends eggs, light or low-fat yogurt, tuna fish, bean dishes and soups, low-fat luncheon meats and tender cooked or ground poultry.