Diet after coronary artery bypass surgery: what can you eat during coronary artery bypass surgery?

General rules

As a rule, with coronary heart disease , the process of narrowing the lumen of the artery by cholesterol plaque is irreversible and increasing. Restoring the narrowed lumen of an artery with an atherosclerotic plaque using medication does not give the desired effect. Therefore, in most cases with severe stenosis , surgical methods of treating coronary artery disease (bypass surgery, stenting) are the only effective ones to normalize blood circulation in the heart muscle, prevent the threat of myocardial infarction and restore a person’s ability to work.
The operations of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and stenting of the coronary arteries are quite complex and in order to obtain a lasting postoperative effect it is necessary to lead a certain way of life. In particular, diet after heart surgery is the most important component of the treatment process during the rehabilitation period. Moreover, properly organized nutrition after heart surgery allows you to avoid the return of angina and repeated vascular operations.

Nutritional risk factors for the continued development of atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease and, accordingly, repeated vascular operations include:

• high energy value of the diet, contributing to the development of obesity ;
• deficiency of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which normalize cholesterol and reduce its deposition on the walls of blood vessels;
• excess content in the diet of fats containing saturated fatty acids (animal and confectionery fats);
• excessive consumption of cholesterol with a lack of foods in the diet that normalize the metabolism of cholesterol and fats;
• excessive consumption of easily digestible refined carbohydrates (sugar and products containing it);
• increased consumption of table salt, which reduces the activity of fat metabolism enzymes;
• insufficient content in the diet of foods rich in fiber - wholemeal bread, vegetables, cereals, fruits, berries, which reduces the process of removing cholesterol through the intestines;
• excessive consumption of animal proteins, which disrupts vascular permeability, blood clotting and negatively affects fat metabolism;
• insufficient consumption of magnesium, zinc, potassium, iodine, vitamins A , C , B6 , PP , carotene , which slows down the breakdown of cholesterol and disrupts lipid metabolism;
• improper diet with rare and heavy meals.

Accordingly, the general principles of dietary nutrition after CABG and vascular stenosis are to reduce the energy value of the daily diet to 2400-2600 kcal with the consumption of 70-90 g of proteins (animal proteins are reduced to 50%), 80 g of fats (40% vegetable) and 300- 350 g of carbohydrates (with a decrease in the intake of easily digestible carbohydrates).

The protein content in the diet should be no more than 1.0-1.2 g per 1 kg of body weight and is ensured by including fish, low-fat dairy products, seafood in the diet, moderate consumption of lean meat and meat products and limiting the consumption of egg yolks and offal.

Foods rich in extractives and cholesterol are limited in the diet. Table salt is reduced to 5 mg/day. Animal and cooking fats are completely excluded. Increase foods containing dietary fiber (vegetables, cereals, fruits), vitamins , especially C and E and microelements (potassium, iodine, magnesium), which are rich in seafood (squid, seaweed, mussels, shrimp) in the form of independent dishes or as part salads

The consumption of “white” varieties of fish is recommended, since fatty acids from fish fats improve cholesterol metabolism and normalize blood clotting properties, reducing the risk of blood clots . The volume of free fluid is limited to 1.2-1.5 l/day.

Diet after coronary artery bypass surgery

The purpose of dietary nutrition after cardiac coronary artery bypass surgery is primarily to limit the intake of animal and culinary fats containing polyunsaturated fatty acids, low-density lipoproteins, cholesterol and triglycerides, which form cholesterol plaques in the lumen of blood vessels. All fried foods and especially red fatty meat and fatty fish are excluded from the diet. Cold-pressed olive oil is allowed from vegetable fats.

Of fish products, the diet should include “white” varieties of fish (cod, hake, flounder), as well as types of fish with a high content of fish oil - tuna, herring, salmon, sardine. Nutrition after bypass surgery should include a high content of fruits and vegetables, both fresh and frozen, and freshly squeezed juices.

folic acid , is useful for maintaining cardiovascular activity . It is recommended to include in your diet foods containing iodine - shrimp, mussels, seaweed, squid, as well as wholemeal bread, yeast-free bread, whole grains, and cereals.

The diet after cardiac bypass surgery includes 4-5 meals a day, excluding hot or cold foods. Salt in minimal quantities. Portions should not be plentiful. Requirements for culinary processing of products provide for the replacement of deep frying in animal fats with boiling, stewing, and steaming. The volume of free fluid is no more than 1-1.2 l/day.

Diet after cardiac stenting

Cardiac stenting, although it is a minimally invasive surgical method with a relatively short recovery period for the patient, also requires adherence to an anti-cholesterol diet for the rest of his life. Ignoring dietary nutrition leads to the continued development of atherosclerosis of the coronary vessels and the formation of new plaques, narrowing their lumen.

In principle, nutrition after stenting of cardiac vessels is similar to nutrition after vascular bypass surgery. The basis of the diet should be foods that prevent the development of atherosclerosis: fish (at least 2 times a week), lean meat and poultry, virgin vegetable oils, fresh vegetables/fruits high in fiber, seafood, wholemeal bread, whole grain products , nuts, low-fat dairy products.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids ( omega-3 ) contained in fish oil and vegetable oils reduce the content of triglycerides and low-density lipoproteins in the blood and increase the content of beneficial high-density lipoproteins.
Fiber from plant foods effectively binds and removes cholesterol from the intestines.

Limit the “wrong” carbohydrates

Honey, baked goods, ice cream, confectionery, sparkling water, jam - all this contains sugar, glucose, fructose, that is, “light” carbohydrates. Unfortunately, blood vessels suffer greatly from excessive love of sweets. “Excess” glucose in the blood, not used by tissues, is deposited in fat, which is not only subcutaneous deposits, but also future cholesterol plaques, the direct cause of cardiac ischemia.

The post-CABG diet includes avoiding or at least significantly limiting the consumption of baked goods and sweets. Nutritionists claim that a one-time consumption of 30 g of food containing carbohydrates will not cause harm - such a “dose” of sugar is quickly used up by the body. To visualize this amount more clearly, 30 grams is 2 chocolates. However, if more sweets are consumed at one time, this carries potential harm.

At the same time, the inclusion of “safe” carbohydrates in the diet is welcome. Vegetables, whole grains, fruits (including lemon) - you can and should eat them. Don't forget also about bran - a source of fiber. In general, the healthiest carbohydrate for a “core” person is fiber. The human body does not break it down, so it is not absorbed and is excreted unchanged. At the same time, it not only leaves the body itself, but also takes with it something unnecessary or even harmful: toxins, cholesterol molecules, metabolites.

Read more about carbohydrates in the human body.

Authorized Products

To reduce cholesterol levels and minimize the risk of developing atherosclerosis and angina, it is necessary to include foods containing polyunsaturated fatty acids, complex carbohydrates and fiber in the diet. The menu should include soups made with vegetable broth with the addition of cereals (beetroot soup, cabbage soup, borscht) and potatoes. For second courses, it is recommended to use lean varieties of red meat (veal, lean beef) and poultry (turkey, chicken), and rabbit. Low-fat varieties of white fish (cod, hake, tuna, flounder) and seafood (mussels, squid, shrimp, seaweed) are extremely healthy. As for fats, the use of vegetable oils (sunflower, olive), preferably cold-pressed, is recommended.

The diet should include dairy products (low-fat kefir, fermented baked milk) and low-fat cheeses. Be sure to include baked goods made from wholemeal flour, yeast-free bread, whole grains, oatmeal cookies and porridge in your diet. You should increase the amount of fruits and vegetables consumed in any form and method of culinary processing. The diet should include freshly squeezed juices from berries (blackberries, strawberries, blueberries) and fruits, almonds, walnuts. Fresh garden herbs and cereal dishes are a must. It is useful to use decoctions of rose hips and wheat bran to improve blood circulation.

Table of permitted products

How does alcohol affect surgical procedures?

By abstaining from drinking before surgery, the patient reduces the risk of developing infectious complications, as well as poor healing of wounds and operated tissues.

As you know, alcohol has a direct effect on blood clotting, so doctors warn that its use can cause sudden bleeding during surgery and other undesirable consequences.

In addition, excessive drinking affects the state of the immune system, which becomes vulnerable and susceptible to various types of infections.

Alcohol consumption has an unpredictable effect on the effects of anesthesia. Alcohol greatly complicates the health of the liver, which during surgery has difficulty coping with the anesthesia entering the body.

In this regard, chronic alcoholics usually require smaller doses of anesthesia than non-drinkers. But there are cases when, for “experienced” alcoholics, the standard doses of anesthesia, on the contrary, are too small, and they have every chance of waking up during surgery.

Drinking alcoholic beverages can cause depression of the central nervous system and disruption of the respiratory system. In addition, it is the presence of ethyl alcohol in the blood that causes problems with blood pressure, which plays a vital role during operations. Alcohol is a risk factor for the development of acute delirium and confusion after surgery.

Therefore, anesthesiologists strongly recommend not to use it at least 24 hours before surgery. If the patient drinks alcohol, he must honestly inform his anesthesiologist about this and discuss with him the types of anesthesia acceptable in this case in order to select an adequate dosage level.

Fully or partially limited products

All types of fatty meat, bacon, lard, any sausages, pates and meat pastes, as well as offal - liver, heart, brains - should be excluded from the diet. Broths containing meat, mushrooms and fish are prohibited. All fried foods, animal and cooking fats, mayonnaise and margarine are completely excluded from the diet. The consumption of butter, high-fat dairy products (sour cream, cream), and cheese is limited. Consumption of chicken eggs is limited to 3-4 eggs per week. You should not include fish and crustacean caviar, fatty fish (sprats, sardines) in your diet.

From the list of products you need to cross out white bread, confectionery, ice cream, carbonated drinks, as well as sugar and products containing it, honey. It is recommended to replace sweets with dried fruits. The restriction also applies to products with a high salt content (pickles, canned food, smoked meats). After vascular surgery, the consumption of chicken egg yolks, products made from butter/puff pastry, rice, semolina, pasta, as well as products containing a lot of caffeine (chocolate, strong tea, coffee, cocoa), which cause vasospasm and increase heart disease, is completely prohibited. activity. The consumption of sweet carbonated drinks, raisins, grapes, various spices and all types of alcoholic drinks is not allowed.

Table of prohibited products

Reduce your salt intake

It has become indispensable for most people. However, excess table salt is harmful to the cardiovascular system. The main harm of consuming salt for a person who has undergone coronary artery bypass surgery is the retention of fluid in the body, which predisposes to increased blood pressure, which in turn increases the load on the heart.

You should not completely eliminate salt from your diet - small amounts of chlorine and sodium are necessary for the body. However, patients who have undergone CABG should significantly reduce its consumption.

You can consume up to 3-5 g of salt per day. This is easiest to control if you pour your “norm” daily into a matchbox or, for example, a separate jar, and take table salt from there throughout the day. A teaspoon holds up to 10 g of salt (without a slide). Thus, the daily norm is half a spoon. It is more convenient if you salt the food not during cooking, but add it to the finished dish.

Reviews and results

As evidenced by medical practice and reviews from most patients, dietary nutrition after bypass surgery and testing of heart vessels is the most important component of the treatment process and the prevention of further progression of atherosclerosis.

• “... At the age of 65 I was admitted to cardiology with acute coronary syndrome. We did stenting, a regular metal stent (Multi-Link VISION). There were no complications. The only medications prescribed were Plavix, Cardiomagnyl and Egilok. Cholesterol is 5.3, they prescribed an anti-cholesterol diet, which, according to doctors, I need to follow for life. And now I’ve been sitting on it for more than 6 months. I don’t feel any particular inconvenience, since there are many permitted foods in the diet”;
• “... After stenting the coronary vessels (4 stents) 3 years ago, the lipid profile is still unsatisfactory. For normalization, strict therapeutic nutrition was recommended. I followed this diet immediately after the operation, but then I relaxed and began to break it. Now I’m starting to eat again on the doctor’s recommendation, I hope it will help.”

What can you eat after heart surgery? Nutrition after heart surgery for recovery

Heart surgery is considered particularly difficult, therefore, after undergoing such a surgical intervention, it is extremely important to follow all the doctor’s instructions regarding further nutrition and lifestyle in general. This is necessary for the speedy rehabilitation of the body and the complete recovery of the patient. It is important to know your nutrition after heart valve replacement surgery. First of all, the diet after heart surgery involves very moderate nutrition. You should eat exactly as much as your body can process, without putting anything aside “in reserve.” Another important rule of the postoperative diet is to adhere to a fractional nutrition system. During the day you should have 6-7 meals.

The diet after heart surgery and valve replacement allows for some violations, but only minor ones. For example, you can sometimes arrange a “holiday” for yourself in the form of a piece of young pork or veal. If you don’t particularly like meat, you can treat yourself to a fried egg made from several eggs.

You can prepare fruit salads by adding chopped nuts to them. Walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts are especially useful. But peanuts may contain toxic substances, so it is better to avoid them. You should also be careful when handling pine nuts. The diet after heart bypass surgery is exactly the same as after valve replacement surgery.

How does alcohol affect surgical procedures?

By abstaining from drinking before surgery, the patient reduces the risk of developing infectious complications, as well as poor healing of wounds and operated tissues.

As you know, alcohol has a direct effect on blood clotting, so doctors warn that its use can cause sudden bleeding during surgery and other undesirable consequences.

In addition, excessive drinking affects the state of the immune system, which becomes vulnerable and susceptible to various types of infections.

Alcohol consumption has an unpredictable effect on the effects of anesthesia. Alcohol greatly complicates the health of the liver, which during surgery has difficulty coping with the anesthesia entering the body.

In this regard, chronic alcoholics usually require smaller doses of anesthesia than non-drinkers. But there are cases when, for “experienced” alcoholics, the standard doses of anesthesia, on the contrary, are too small, and they have every chance of waking up during surgery.

Drinking alcoholic beverages can cause depression of the central nervous system and disruption of the respiratory system. In addition, it is the presence of ethyl alcohol in the blood that causes problems with blood pressure, which plays a vital role during operations. Alcohol is a risk factor for the development of acute delirium and confusion after surgery.

Therefore, anesthesiologists strongly recommend not to use it at least 24 hours before surgery. If the patient drinks alcohol, he must honestly inform his anesthesiologist about this and discuss with him the types of anesthesia acceptable in this case in order to select an adequate dosage level.

Diet rules after CABG

The nutritional program is prepared by the attending physician, but there are rules for eating foods after bypass surgery. According to the recommendations:

• In the total number of calories, the fat content does not exceed 7%.
• Cholesterol is limited to 250-300 mg in daily food intake.
• Dairy foods should contain fat not exceeding 1% of the composition.
• Sweet drinks should be replaced with liquid without additional added sugar.
• It is worth maintaining a balance, maintaining a harmonious ratio of calorie content of the daily diet and calorie expenditure during physical activity.

Many sites recommend that patients after CABG adhere to the principles of protein nutrition. The programs allow you to quickly lose weight and tighten your figure without the painful feeling of hunger from food restrictions. You should not follow the advice of non-specialized resources without discussing nutritional principles with your doctor. A protein diet can harm the body, forcing the patient to give up healthy carbohydrates, vitamins, and microelements.