How to Eat after Having Appendicitis

For a long time, it was thought that the appendix did not have an actual bodily function, but in 2009 an investigation by the Duke Universal Medical Center discovered that the appendix actually stores beneficial bacteria that contributes to the healing of the bacterial flora in our intestine if it has been lowered, which is common when we have intestinal infections, heavy diarrhea, etc.

However, from a digestive point of vies, an appendectomy does not need a strict diet, though it is important to care for our diet after the operation. Many doctors tell patients they can eat anything, something that is true on general terms, but there are certain foods that you should avoid during the first month after the operation such as the following:

• Fried foods or snacks, they are heavy and difficult to digest.
• Pastries, cookies, cakes and sweets, as they have a lot of fat, are difficult to digest and can cause bloating.
• Foods with high fat levels such as whole milk, cured or cream cheeses, ice creams or cured meats as they are very fatty and can cause digestive discomfort.
• It's recommended to limit the amount of red meat as it takes a long time to digest.
• During the healing period, avoid pulses as they can increase gas and cause discomfort.
• Don't drink alcohol, it can irritate your digestive system.

When eating after an appendicitis operation, it's important to remember to follow a healthy and clean diet, rich in nutritional foods that won't cause abdominal inflammation, gases or discomfort. This is why we give you some suggestions you can take into account:

Breakfast

• Start the day by drinking a glass of soya, almond, rice or oat milk, it's best if you avoid cow's milk for a month. You can also drink or a pineapple or orange juice.
• Remember that, from the third day after the operation, you can eat as much fruit as you need. Pineapple, in this case, will help in the recovery process as it's a great natural anti-inflammatory.
• For breakfast you can prepare toast and cover them with different kinds of marmalade. Choose whichever you prefer! You can even make a turkey or avocado sandwich.
• Skimmed and sugar-free yogurt is a good ingredient to add to your breakfast.

Morning snack

• A slice of pineapple, apple or pear.
• Sugar-free jello.
• Cheese or turkey sandwich.
• A glass of fresh pressed juice.

Lunch

• Vegetable broth and pasta if you're not very hungry.
• You can also choose vegetable sops with ingredients such as carrot, squash, potato or leek, another alternative if you haven't got a big appetite.
• Grilled chicken breast with white rice is a great option. You can also try grilled turkey or baked chicken too.
• You can accompany your meal with side dishes such as boiled or mashed potato or a bit of spinach.

Afternoon snack

If you're hungry during mid afternoon you can eat:

• Jello.
• Toast with jam.
• Green tea.
• Fruit.

Dinner

Try to eat light food at dinner time. You can choose from the following:

• Baked apple with skimmed yogurt.
• Chicken broth.
• Boiled vegetables.
• Boiled eggs.

If you notice that a certain food produces gases or abdominal pain, do not eat it during this period any longer.

Apart from avoiding fish that can cause abdominal pain, it's important to take into account other recommendations so you can recover as soon as possible. We suggest the following:

• Rest for as long as your doctor advises you to in order to recover properly.
• Avoid any kind of effort that can cause discomfort in the wounded area such as carrying a lot of weight or doing physical activity for a long time until your wound has completely healed. Take a look at our article on how to recover from an appendectomy for more information.
• If you have a lot of gas, walking slowly can help you get rid of them effectively.

This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.

If you want to read similar articles to How to Eat after Having Appendicitis, we recommend you visit our Diseases & secondary effects category.

• Always ask a professional what diet to follow.
• Do not drink soft drinks.
• Drink two litres of water on a daily basis. It is very important to maintain the intestinal flow in condition!
• Avoid sweet and confectionery.
• Add raw garlic to your meals; garlic is the best natural antibiotic.
• Include the meat back into your diet gradually. Try to accompany it always with fresh fruits.
• Substitute cow's milk with vegetable milks, this is much more nourishing and will not damage your bowel.