If you’re like me, you may enjoy a little heat in your food. A kick of jalapeno, tabasco or sriracha sauce can add delicious flavor to your meals. Trust me when I say that I empathize with patients who are worried about what they can and cannot eat after bariatric surgery. Unfortunately, it is necessary for you to cut down on your consumption of spicy foods after gastric sleeve. The good news, however, is that you can probably still enjoy some spice on occasion.
Why Spicy Food Can Be Harmful after Gastric Sleeve
In the first few months after your surgery, I strongly encourage you to eat a bland diet without spices. This is important because your stomach needs time to heal without being agitated. Spices can irritate the incision points on your surgery, and this can not only delay or complicate your recovery but also cause significant pain.
Even without gastric sleeve, spicy foods and sauces are known to irritate most stomachs (though tolerance differs from person to person). A stomach that is dramatically smaller thanks to gastric sleeve is more susceptible to the effects of spicy food. Even a low level of spiciness may produce a case of indigestion. The discomfort from dyspepsia may be enough to keep you away from spices altogether.
Moderation Is Key
While you may no longer be able to enjoy spicy foods like you once did, this does not mean you have to give them up completely. As with everything in life, moderation is smart. If you want to reintroduce spices into your diet, do it slowly. Look for mild options instead of hot and limit the amount of spicy food you eat overall.
The other important thing is to listen to your body. If you can eat mild spice without causing significant discomfort, try medium heat for a future meal. However, if even a small amount of spice gives you heartburn and ingestion, you may want to explore other flavor profiles that satisfy your tongue and your stomach.
Planning for Gastric Sleeve
Keeping your hot sauce habit in check isn’t the only dietary adjustment you’ll have to make to achieve your weight loss goals after gastric sleeve. But ultimately, nearly all patients agree that the benefits of gastric sleeve far outweigh the inconveniences. To learn more about these benefits, please schedule a consultation with me at Endobariatric.
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“Changing lives…one sleeve at a time”.
