The Mediterranean Diet After Bariatric Surgery?

Diet is a crucial element of a healthy lifestyle, especially after bariatric surgery. Post-surgery, you need to be more vigilant with your eating habits than ever. Many patients have found a post-surgery diet that helps to successfully keep the weight off and stick to healthy habits – the Mediterranean diet. The Mediterranean diet has been recognised as one of the healthiest dietary patterns associated with decreased risk of cancer and autoimmune, chronic, and cardiovascular diseases. So, what makes the Mediterranean diet good for you after bariatric surgery?

The Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet Post-Bariatric Surgery

Countries such as Greece, Italy, Southern France and Spain (all bordering the Mediterranean Sea) are touted as the countries where the lifestyle first originated. Consuming healthy whole foods and avoiding processed foods is the basis of the lifestyle which is associated with benefits such as promoting heart health, regulating blood sugar levels, reducing type 2 diabetes risk and supporting brain function.

Foods Recommended by the Mediterranean Diet and Lifestyle

Eating plenty of: 

• Vegetables
• Fruits
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Whole Grain breads and cereals
• Legumes or beans (e.g., chickpeas, kidney beans or lentils)
• Nuts and seeds
• Fish and seafood
• Onion, garlic and other herbs and spices (e.g., oregano, coriander, cumin etc.)

Tip: Eating fresh fruit and vegetables in season is best, however a mix of fresh, frozen and canned is perfectly fine! Just remember to check the labels for added sugar and sodium.

Eating in moderation:

• Poultry
• Eggs
• Cheese
• Yoghurt

Eating these foods rarely…

• Red and processed meat
• Refined oils
• Refined grains
• Added sugars
• Processed foods

Tip: Water is the beverage of choice and wine (traditionally red wine) is consumed in moderation. 

Other very important components of the lifestyle include regular exercise, sharing meals with other people, eating without distractions, eating slowly (known as ‘eating mindfully’ so you can taste the flavours and enjoy what you’re eating), and minimising stress levels. 

For personal, expert advice on healthy eating post surgery, get in touch with our friendly team of dietitians at Brisbane Weight Loss Surgery. 

This post originally appeared on True North Wellness’s blog: https://truenorthwellness.com.au/the-mediterranean-diet-explained/ 

Reproduced with permission.