{"id":8987,"date":"2024-06-04T21:49:18","date_gmt":"2024-06-04T21:49:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oncoalicia.com\/?page_id=8987"},"modified":"2025-07-04T08:42:39","modified_gmt":"2025-07-04T08:42:39","slug":"dietary-culinary-recommendations-after-a-total-gastrectomy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/oncoalicia.com\/en\/types-of-cancer\/gastric\/post-surgery-what-to-eat-after-a-gastrectomy\/dietary-culinary-recommendations-after-a-total-gastrectomy\/","title":{"rendered":"Dietary Recommendations After a Total Gastrectomy"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The body needs a few weeks to recover after a gastrectomy. It is necessary to eat protein-rich foods to aid recovery and prevent further weight loss. During this period, you will have to adapt to a new situation, to learn to understand what happens in the body with different foods, types of cooking or amounts. During this period, the body needs easily digestible foods until the intestine adapts to receive and digest the food. Each person is different, so the time needed to go back to eating everything will vary; the important thing is to make a bi of progress every day and introduce foods and dishes gradually. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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WHAT DO WE RECOMMEND?<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Ensure good hydration. <\/i><\/a><\/h3>\n
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It is recommended to consume about 1.5 litres of liquid per day, but because that is not always easy, it is preferable to try to reach the maximum that each person can tolerate.
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In many cases, water alone is not well tolerated, so other liquids should be drunk, such as broth, diluted juice or diluted vegetable and fruit smoothies. Jellies and popsicles are also an option.
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It is advisable to always drink outside of meals and in small amounts, and not to drink within 30 to 60 minutes before and after meals. It is best to start with small volumes and sips.
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Sugary, carbonated and alcoholic beverages should be avoided.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\n Some suggested recipes:<\/b>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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\n Ginger tea<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\n Red fruits tea<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\n Melon and yogurt smoothie\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\n Apple, carrot and pear juice\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\n Fruit and yogurt ice pops\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\n Kiwi and apple ice lollies\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Divide feeding into six or more small meals per day. <\/i><\/a><\/h3>\n
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Because the stomach is no longer available to receive and digest food before it goes on to the small intestine, there is a general sense of feeling full very quickly and losing your appetite. Therefore, the amount of food per meal should be much smaller. It is important to eat more meals per day to ingest different foods and a higher proportion of nutrients. Thus, at a minimum, the feeding should be divided into breakfast, mid-morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner and after-dinner snack.
In some cases, even more small meals eaten every two hours may be needed. Even if you do not feel hungry, you should eat several times a day to maintain adequate weight and nutrition. This will also help the digestive system to adapt to the new situation.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Eat slowly and chew thoroughly. <\/i><\/a><\/h3>\n
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It is essential to chew food very well and mash it into a pur\u00e9e before swallowing. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Stop eating before feeling full.<\/i><\/a><\/h3>\n
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It is important to learn to listen to the body, its sensations and reactions when eating, and to stop eating before feeling full to avoid discomfort later.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Rest in a seated or semi-reclined position after meals.<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Ensure that foods from most of the food groups are eaten throughout the day. <\/i><\/a><\/h3>\n
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Fruits, dairy, starchy foods (cereals, tubers, legumes*, etc.), protein-rich foods (eggs, fish, meat, tofu, tempeh, seitan, texturised protein) and healthy fats (virgin olive oil, nuts**), depending on tolerance and dietary progression.
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Incorporate vegetables in small amounts at the beginning, since they are very filling and provide few calories.
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*Legumes should be incorporated in pur\u00e9ed form (creams, pur\u00e9es, etc.) or mashed with a fork to facilitate digestion.
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** Nuts should be incorporated ground or crushed.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Progress with food little by little. <\/i><\/a><\/h3>\n
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It is common for the patient to eat a liquid diet during the hospital stay and then to progress to a pur\u00e9ed diet when released. At home, a diet with soft-textured foods can be started, which can be mashed if they are not tolerated in a solid form. The type of food and textures needed may progress day to day, depending on the specifications of the medical team.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Eat often and avoid prolonged fasting. <\/i><\/a><\/h3>\n
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Because the stomach capacity is reduced, it is necessary to eat little amounts frequently. It is advisable to avoid prolonged fasting, so ideally you should have a snack before bedtime in order to lower the fasting time.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Ensure that main meals are complete. <\/i><\/a><\/h3>\n
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Always ensure the presence of starchy, protein-rich foods, vegetables in small amounts and fruit at lunch and dinner, even in small amounts, as indicated in the plate method. A dessert dish can be used as the basis for a main course, a first or second course or a tapas-style meal.
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It is preferable to incorporate the food groups according to the instructions below.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Ensure that all meals contain starchy foods. <\/i><\/a><\/h3>\n
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White rice, pasta, potatoes, cooked carrots, bread, oatmeal or legumes:<\/p>\n