Foods to Eat and Avoid After Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: A Complete Diet Guide

Coronary artery bypass surgery is an important medical procedure performed when arteries supplying blood to the heart become blocked. After the surgery, patients require strict dietary restrictions to ensure speedy recovery and support overall heart health.In this post, we will explore more about the foods to eat and avoid after coronary bypass surgery and the 7-day Indian diet plan to follow post-surgery.

What is Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery?

Coronary artery bypass surgery, also known as coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), is a surgery done to treat coronary artery disease. 

During the procedure, the surgeon takes a blood vessel from another part of the body, including the chest or leg area, to go around a blocked artery to improve the blood flow to the heart.

Why Diet Matters After Coronary Bypass Surgery And Its Recovery?

Coronary bypass surgery can have a huge impact on the body, and the body is in a healing phase post-surgery. 

Diet plays an important role in the recovery after coronary bypass surgery and maintaining overall health. A balanced diet may help in repairing the body, reducing the risk of complications, and improving overall health.

A balanced diet post-surgery helps in 

• Boosting overall well-being by promoting heart health
• Promoting healing and tissue repair
• Reduce the inflammatory markers
• Manage the risk factors associated with heart disease, including cholesterol and blood pressure.
• Preventing further plaque buildup in arteries

Best Diet Plan After Heart Bypass Surgery

The best diet plan after heart bypass surgery are 

• Including colorful plant-based foods to enrich the diet with antioxidants
• Incorporating more fibre and plant-based foods, including whole grains, fruits, and vegetables in the diet
• Opting for unsaturated fats, including olive oil, avocado, nuts, and seeds. Choose oils that contain high amounts of essential fatty acids.
• Choosing lean proteins, including fish, skinless poultry, and plant-based proteins
• Following portion control and spreading the meals the entire day
• Snacking on light foods, including boiled corn, puffed rice, sprouts, or vegetable chaat.
• Avoiding packaged and processed foods.

Foods to Avoid After Coronary Bypass Surgery

Some foods may strain the heart and slow down the recovery process making it crucial to avoid them after heart bypass surgery.

The foods to avoid after heart bypass surgery are

• Foods that are rich in trans fats: These include french fries, fried chicken, chips, and so on. Trans rich foods raise LDL cholesterol which harms heart health.
• Foods high in sodium: These include canned soups, packaged foods,  and salty snacks that may elevate blood pressure increasing the risk of fluid retention and additional strain on the heart.
• Foods high in added sugars: These include sodas, candy, chocolate, and pastries. Studies have shown that refined sugars-rich foods may increase triglyceride levels and affect heart health.
• Foods high in processed carbohydrates: These include white bread, and white rice which may cause rapid spikes in blood sugar and overconsumption may elevate triglyceride levels
• Foods high in processed meat, including hot dogs: Processed meats are often high in unhealthy fats, sodium, and preservatives which may increase the risk of heart disease

Food to Eat After Coronary Bypass Surgery

The following foods are excellent choices to include in your diet post-coronary bypass surgery. Incorporating these foods along with adequate hydration may help accelerate the body’s natural healing process.

• Fresh fruits and vegetables

Fresh fruits and vegetables are rich in vital nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants important for cardiovascular health. A review of studies showed that an intake of 200g of fruits and vegetables per day showed an 8-13% reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease.

• Nuts And Seeds

Nuts and seeds are packed with nutrients and healthy fats that benefit heart health. They also help in improving cholesterol levels, reducing inflammation and providing essential nutrients. 

• Lean Proteins

Lean sources of proteins, including fish, poultry, beans, lentils, and low-fat dairy products are essential to help with the healing process. Fish rich in omega-3, including salmon, mackerel, or sardines have anti-inflammatory properties and reduce heart-related risk factors.

• Legumes and Beans 

Legumes and beans are rich in fibre, vitamins, minerals, and proteins and are associated with lowering the risk of heart disease.  

7-Day Indian Diet Chart After Heart Bypass Surgery

Here is a sample Indian diet chart for an individual who has undergone heart surgery. However, the dietary chart may vary based on the severity of the condition and the presence of other health risk factors, including diabetes, and thyroid. 

Therefore, it is advised to consult your dietician to get a customized diet plan based on your health condition and risk factors.

	Breakfast	Mid-morning snack	Lunch	Evening snack	Dinner
Day 1	Oatmeal porridge with sliced strawberries with a sprinkle of chia seeds	Apple	Grilled chicken or paneer salad with mixed greens	Green tea, nuts	Lentil soup or dal with multigrain roti
Day 2	Whole wheat toast with scrambled egg whites and tomato slices	Orange	Quinoa and vegetable stir fry	Carrot sticks	Grilled fish with steamed vegetables
Day 3	Greek yoghurt with seasonal fruits and a sprinkle of flaxseeds	Banana	Chickpea curry (Chana) with whole wheat roti	Coconut water, seeds	Vegetable and paneer stir fry with brown rice
Day 4	Pancake or moong dal chilla with mint chutney	Pear	Brown rice with spinach and mushroom curry	Roasted sunflower seeds	Lentil soup with a side of roasted vegetables
Day 5	Whole grain upma with vegetables	Papaya	Tofu warp or grilled chicken wrap with roti	Roasted chickpeas	Baked sweet potato with beans topping
Day 6	Idli with coconut chutney and sambar	Apple	Mixed vegetable pulao with raita	Almonds	Vegetable khichdi, mixed greens
Day 7	Poha with peanuts and peas	Grapes	Whole wheat pasta with tomato sauce	Cucumber sticks	Tofu tikka masala with brown rice

Table: A sample 7-day Indian Diet Chart After Coronary Bypass Surgery

Common Dietary Mistakes After Heart Surgery

The common dietary mistakes after heart surgery are

• Skipping meals or overeating meals: Both skipping or overeating meals can disrupt blood sugar levels and may affect heart health
• Not drinking enough water: Dehydration may stress the heart and affect the healing. Stay hydrated by taking more water, fresh fruit juices, and herbal teas.
• Not practising portion control and ignoring fibre intake: Overeating may lead to weight gain and a low-fibre diet may negatively affect heart health.
• Excessive intake of alcohol: Avoid excessive intake of alcohol may lead to raised blood pressure, increased heart rate, and liver damage that may interfere with recovery.

Conclusion

Diet plays an important role in the recovery process after coronary artery surgery. By following a heart-healthy diet and reducing trans fat, red meat, sodium-rich, cholesterol-rich, and processed foods may improve the chances of a smooth recovery post-surgery.

For any queries regarding heart bypass surgery and diet after the surgery, you may book an appointment at Heart360 Care.

Frequently Asked Questions