When you have had weight loss surgery, especially Gastric Bypass, it is important to watch what you eat, especially when it comes to fruits. Gastric Bypass will help you lose a significant amount of weight quickly, reducing the size of your stomach while blocking calorie absorption a you go through the dietary stages after weight loss surgery. Within a short amount of time, you will be on a solid food diet composed of high proteins, low sugar, and low carb options.  While learning how to eat healthy, you will likely turn to fruits for some vitamins and nutrients.

What Fruits Can You Eat After Gastric Bypass Surgery?

After weight loss surgery, you may find yourself craving something sweet, reaching for fruit rather than sugary sweets. Since there is an abundance of natural sugars in fruit, which should you eat and which should be avoided? These fruit-choosing facts may help you on your weight loss journey.

Whole Fruits

Directly after weight loss surgery, you will need to avoid whole fruits as you will be expected to follow a clear liquid diet, followed by a full liquid phase. As your body heals, you will go through the pureed food and soft food stages and at that time, you should be able to enjoy small quantities of soft fruits. Even fruit can be high in carbs and sugar so you must be careful, or you may experience ‘Dumping Syndrome’, a common symptom of taking in too much fat or sugar.

Dumping Syndrome can be quite unpleasant, bringing such symptoms as dizziness or sweating, nausea and vomiting, and even shakiness and chills. Know which whole fruits offer the least amounts of sugar and carbs to avoid Dumping Syndrome. Most berries such as blueberries, raspberries and strawberries are better choices than other fruits, making them a fairly good option for Bariatric patients.

You should avoid bananas which are high in calories and can easily prevent you from reaching your goal weight and cause intestinal discomfort. To aid in the digestion of oranges, apples and grapefruit, you should always peel and trim the fruit. If you decide to try new foods, you should proceed with caution taking a small bite and chewing well. By paying close attention, you will learn which fruits, and foods in general, you should avoid, causing you stomach issues and/or sickness.

 

Processed Fruits

After weight loss surgery, including Gastric Bypass, you will reach a stage where mashed or pureed fruit is an acceptable choice. During this phase, you will need to read labels and watch for fruits that are high in sugar content. This is usually due to being canned or processed in light and heavy syrups, which can also lead to Dumping Syndrome. Choose items such as naturally sweetened applesauce and fruits packed in their own natural juices, avoiding sugar as much as possible.

 

Fruit Juices or Dried Fruits

After Gastric Bypass Surgery, there will be things you have enjoyed your entire life that your body will no longer be able to digest without discomfort. You will also have to give up some things that may seem healthy such as fruit juices, which are actually high in sugar content. About half of all Bariatric surgery patients can dilute fruit juices such as apple and orange juice and enjoy a glass now and then. Keep a close eye on your goal weight though, as these juices can quickly send you backwards on the scale.

Your stomach may not be able to handle dried fruits after Gastric Bypass or other weight loss surgeries, most particularly dried cranberries, apricots and raisins. Again, this is due to the high amounts of sugar used to cure these dried fruits. After some time has passed after your Bariatric surgery, you may be able to indulge in and tolerate dried fruits again but use caution, watching for sudden weight gain.