People looking for healthy weight management know to stick to the greens platter at parties and buffets. After all, vegetables are a good health food packed with beneficial vitamins, nutrients, and fiber. But some vegetables, particularly cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower, can cause severe gastric upset when eaten raw by patients undergoing gastric weight-loss surgery. In fact, there are many examples of weight loss surgery patients who experienced such severe gastric discomfort after eating raw broccoli or cauliflower that they had to go to the emergency room.

The reason weight loss surgery patients of all procedures (gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, adjustable gastric banding, or gastric banding) are prone to discomfort after eating raw cruciferous vegetables is a matter of balance. Vegetables are rich in enzymes that are believed to aid digestion. However, due to the shortened gastric tract and loss of stomach acid, vegetables cannot be fully digested on their short journey through the intestinal tract. The problem is compounded by the presence of cellulose, the dietary fiber in vegetables that requires gut bacteria to process it. Even without gastric weight loss surgery, many humans lack enough gut bacteria to break down cellulose enough to prevent symptoms of gas, bloating, and cramps.

After weight loss surgery, many patients are intensely focused on becoming healthy and managing their weight through proper diet and nutrition and increased daily activity. These are admirable activities that often lead to the dilemma of eating good and healthy vegetables with the risk of severe gastric disorders. Frustrated patients wonder, If it’s so good for me, why does it make me feel so bad? Good question. There are some steps that can be taken to reduce the discomfort that follows eating raw vegetables so that we can get our nutrients and enjoy them too. Have a look:

• Experiment with caution. If you don’t know how you’ll respond to raw vegetables, go easy at first and avoid the embarrassment or embarrassment that can come from eating too much of a good thing. Also, remember that from one day to the next the food will taste different. Always practice moderation as you notice how food feels to you that day.
• Lightly steam or parboil vegetables to begin breaking down the cellular structure, which helps intestinal acid deal more quickly with digestion. Remember, if you can’t digest the vegetable, you won’t be able to absorb the vitamins and nutrients from the vegetable. To serve the steamed or parboiled vegetables cold, simply prepare them ahead of time, drain the water, and pat dry. Plate, cover and cool. Then serve cold with a lightly seasoned vegetable dip made from yogurt that contains healthy bacteria to aid digestion. Avoid dairy-based sauces, such as those made with sour cream, as this can increase the chance of stomach upset.
• Take a digestive enzyme as directed before or shortly after eating raw vegetables. There are many digestive enzyme supplements available at a reasonable cost. Many weight loss surgery patients report that papaya enzyme is effective in reducing digestive discomfort. According to a papaya enzyme manufacturer, the dietary supplement contains “papain, a proteolytic enzyme and a popular ingredient in dietary supplements used for digestion. Taken after meals, it is a perfect natural supplement that can aid in digestion.” and can help reduce the effects of poor digestion, including heartburn and gas.” As with all dietary supplements, please note that the FDA does not evaluate these claims or approve the supplements for their stated use. Consumers should consult with a healthcare professional before using any dietary supplement.
• Chew, chew, chew. Remember that digestion begins in the mouth and it is essential to thoroughly chew all raw vegetables to give your gastric system the best conditions to digest food and benefit from the vitamins and nutrients it contains.