What to Eat After Laparoscopic Surgery? – 7 Best Options

ABDUL MAZEEN
8 Min Read

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When we think about surgery, the first thing we consider is what to eat afterward. Laparoscopic surgery1 is a type of surgery, in which a small cut or incision is made on the abdomen area to resolve the occurring problem. If you still do not know what exactly this surgery is, do not get perplexed, I will explain it in the simplest way possible.

Laparoscopic surgery includes using a long bendable tube attached to a light and camera that is placed into the belly or hip area. It is primarily done to have a clear observation of your internal organs to identify if there are any problems. The concerns may include, hernia-related pain or discomfort, appendix removal2, or tumor removals. This course of action is also done to perform other kinds of surgeries as well.

If you had this surgery recently or are curious about what to eat after it, then you are at the correct place. Let us dive deep into what sort of food you must consume after the surgery. It is of utmost importance that you take a lot of fluids post-surgery. The fluids can comprise juices of any category of fruit excluding the citrus fruits.

Foods to Eat After Going Through a Laparoscopic Surgery

Although there are many alternatives out there to eat after this surgery, eating the most suitable diet can heal you faster. There are various sorts of foods that are not only going to heal you faster but also benefit you in multiple ways. Here are some kinds of food items that you can have after the surgery.

1. Starchy Foods

What to Eat After Laparoscopic Surgery? - 7 Best Options 2
Source – Pexels

These types of foods provide you with sustainable energy and glucose that was lost after the medical procedure. Having an optimum glucose level is of utmost importance after laparoscopic surgery to supply the body with energy to heal faster. These types of foods include

  • Baked potato
  • Soft rice
  • Spaghetti
  • Cooked cereal

Foods to avoid

  • Biscuits
  • Muffins
  • Toasts
  • Bread
  • French Fries
  • Crackers

2. Vegetables

You might not be familiar with immense the capacity of vitamins, nutrients, and minerals vegetables have. It is composed of Vitamins A, C, K, and E. These foods have sources of nutrients that are highly advantageous to get better from the surgeries. The food items include :

  • Cooked mixed veggies
  • Tomato paste
  • Tomato puree

Vegetables to avoid

  • Corn
  • raw and uncooked vegetables

3. Fruits

What to Eat After Laparoscopic Surgery? - 7 Best Options 3
Source – Pexels

In case you are not aware, fruits are the sources of natural carbohydrates, which are little in calories but abundant in nutritional profile. It has sources of sugar that do not surge your blood sugar levels like sugar. The best fruit choices are :

  • Avocado
  • Blueberries
  • Apples
  • Pears
  • Bananas

Fruits to Avoid

  • Oranges
  • Apricot
  • Dry fruits
  • Peaches
  • Plums

4. Milk Products

Milk products are ample in calcium, carbohydrates, and healthy fats. It is a great substitute for people who do not eat non-veg. What is more surprising is that it contains carbs, fats, and protein as well. The best milk products are :

  • Yogurt
  • Cottage Cheese
  • Ice-cream
  • Custard
  • Curd

5. Alternatives for Meat Eaters

I know you might be avid on eating non-veg, but in this case, it is suggested to avoid non-veg because it may cause discomfort and indigestion. Moreover, it is harder to digest. The best replacements for these are :

  • Soft Eggs
  • Egg Salad
  • Tofu

Non-Veg to Avoid

  • Chicken
  • Turkey
  • Fish
  • Prawns

6. Healthy Fats

What to Eat After Laparoscopic Surgery? - 7 Best Options 4
Source – Pexels

Healthy fats3 play a vital role in providing texture to the tissues where the incisions and stitches of the surgery are made. These fats are essential to bind the internal layers of the skin. These are the fats, that I would personally suggest consuming after the abdominal surgery :

  • Olives
  • Cream cheese
  • Salad dressing
  • Mayonnaise

Fats to Avoid

  • Dry fruits
  • Bacon
  • Processed cheese

7. Desserts and Beverages

One cannot live without sugar cravings so, it is crucial to have an eye on what types of sweets and drinks we are ingesting. To avoid extra swelling in your gut, you must eat desserts and beverages that do not create any inflammation in the stomach lining. The beverages and desserts that you can have in this circumstance are,

  • Puddings
  • Milkshakes
  • Protein drinks

Foods to Avoid

  • Carbonated drinks
  • Doughnuts
  • All types of confectioneries
  • Cakes
  • Brownies
  • Cookies

8. Sample Meal Menu

Breakfast

  • Milk
  • Oatmeal
  • Soft boiled egg
  • Oatmeal

Brunch

  • Yogurt

Lunch

  • Tomato soup
  • Green beans
  • Pears
  • Margarine

Supper

  • Milkshake

Dinner

  • Macaroni
  • Well cooked peas
  • Applesauce
  • Pudding

Bedtime Snack

  • Cottage cheese

Some Essential Tips

If you have gone through stomach surgery and are starving about what to eat, I’m sure, this article will help you. Laparoscopic surgery directly means the surgery of the abdominal area. This medical procedure will certainly make you feel nauseous and weak.

So to digest and absorb the food, you must be careful about what food you eat. I always prefer easily digestible foods. The food should not be hard on your tummy. If the food is high in calories, there are some chances of inflammation in the surgically operated stomach area.

To avoid this you must consume foods that are easy on the stomach, which may include bland foods, boiled foods without spices, and oil. Try to avoid non-vegetarian food that considerably takes a lot of time to digest, because of the complex protein structures it possesses, it may become harder to absorb in the body and cause inflammation.

I know it is quite painful to eat the food right after the surgery, so start taking fluids like juices made from apples, bananas, blueberries, avocado, and any kind of fruit that is free from citrus to prevent acidity and discomfort. After getting habituated to fluids, slowly introduce solid bland foods like baked potato, cooked cereal, and soft rice.

Thereafter, include tomato sauce, boiled or steamed veggies, and salads. Add milkshakes, and yogurt which is a good probiotic to promote healthy gut bacteria4. Furthermore, do not ever forget to add healthy fats such as olives, cream cheese, and homemade mayonnaise.

Last but not least, if you are craving any sweets and beverages, have puddings and milkshakes. Hope you are now familiar with what kind of diet is necessary after this sort of medical operation.

Diet after Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Gall bladder surgery - Dr. Nanda Rajaneesh

  1. Johnson, Alan. “Laparoscopic surgery.” the Lancet 349.9052 (1997): 631-635. ↩︎
  2. Khairy, Gamal. “Acute appendicitis: is removal of a normal appendix still existing and can we reduce its rate?.” Saudi Journal of Gastroenterology 15.3 (2009): 167-170. ↩︎
  3. Lee, Young Ran. “Choosing Healthy Fats.” The Journal of Korean Diabetes 16.3 (2015): 205-211. ↩︎
  4. Saarela, Maria, et al. “Gut bacteria and health foods—the European perspective.” International journal of food microbiology 78.1-2 (2002): 99-117. ↩︎

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By ABDUL MAZEEN Content Writer
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Iam a Computer Science Fresher who secured an overall 6.5 bands in International English Language Testing System. As an ardent content creator on Youtube, aspiring to write top-notch content for blogging as well as for websites to acheive personal and organisational goals.
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