After surgery to remove a portion of the colon, part of the stomach, or the appendix for cancer treatment, a patient's digestive system undergoes changes. During the post-surgical adaptation period, patients should restrict foods that might irritate the intestines or exacerbate surgical side effects.

Avoid tough or crunchy foods

Patients should consume liquid, soft, and easily digestible foods post-surgery. Restrict crunchy, hard fried items such as ribs, tendons, pork hock, and chips, as these can injure the intestinal tract. Prioritize soft foods including: cooked vegetables, bananas, avocado, mashed potatoes, eggs, and fish. Solid foods can be introduced a few days later; the exact timing depends on the patient's condition and a doctor's recommendation.

Raw fruits and vegetables

Raw fruits and vegetables, while rich in fiber, can be crunchy (like carrots), tough (like celery), or have hard skins (like apples), making them difficult to chew into small pieces or digest seeds. These characteristics can irritate the recovering intestines. Patients should puree or cook vegetables until soft, and only return to consuming raw produce once their digestive system has fully recovered.

Spicy foods

Dishes containing excessive chili, pepper, or mustard can irritate the digestive system, leading to diarrhea and uncomfortable bloating, particularly when the intestines are recovering. Following surgery, patients should prioritize bland, warm foods for several weeks. Herbs and spices such as turmeric, ginger, and five-spice powder should also be limited to prevent adverse gastrointestinal issues.

Avoid fats and oils

Diarrhea is a common symptom after digestive tract surgery, particularly following the removal of the gallbladder, stomach, or a portion of the intestines. In these cases, the digestive system may not have sufficient time to process food before it is eliminated from the body, which can worsen post-surgical symptoms like abdominal pain, indigestion, and diarrhea. Patients should avoid fatty meats, butter, cream, and fried foods until their digestion stabilizes.

Anh Chi (According to WebMD)

Photos: *Anh Chi*, *Bao Bao*.