Bariatric Supplements & Vitamins
After bariatric weight loss surgery it is absolutely essential to follow specific bariatric eating guidelines that will ensure that you properly heal and obtain adequate nutrition. Weight loss surgery is a surgical “tool” that can help you reduce unhealthy weight and body fat. The number one reason for failure of bariatric surgery, is due to not following the post bariatric surgery diet prescribed by the bariatric surgeon or dietician.
Ideally, your diet should have changed before bariatric weight loss surgery to get you into the habit of eating more protein, eating less and eating healthy. Immediately after your bariatric surgery, your eating habits will drastically change in ways that will have a major impact on your lifestyle, for the rest of your life. After surgery, it will generally take about 9-12 weeks for you to gradually progress to eating solid foods.
After bariatric surgery, you will always have to take supplements to provide vital vitamins and minerals, protein and other nutrients that you’ll no longer be able to absorb in your surgically modified stomach and intestine. You must also realize that, for the rest of your life, protein will be your top priority when making food choices. The minimum protein requirement for women is about 50 to 60 grams per day and men need 60 to 70 grams of protein per day. It’s usually not possible to consume that much protein from foods alone during the first month after bariatric surgery. Most bariatric surgery patients use liquid protein supplements of some kind during the first few months after surgery, and many continue to use them as a convenient source of protein for the rest of their lives.
Some of the more popular liquid protein supplements used after bariatric surgery include portion-controlled shakes & drinks, hot drinks, soups, puddings, and liquid protein supplements.
Post bariatric surgery diet guidelines will vary by surgeon. Every bariatric surgeon does not perform the exact same surgery procedure, therefore, the prescribed bariatric diet guidelines will be different for each surgeon and each type of weight loss surgery. It is very important to strictly comply with your surgeon’s or dietician’s recommended diet guidelines. Following are some generally accepted post bariatric surgery guidelines a weight loss patient may be required to follow:
Achieve your bariatric weight loss goals with the help of our selection of bariatric protein diet foods. Specially designed bariatric diet foods are developed for patients on supervised bariatric weight loss programs, and for all phases surrounding bariatric weight loss surgery.
Choose from bariatric bars, shakes, drinks, entrees, breakfast foods, soups, puddings, desserts and more!
Vitamins and Supplements are a very important part of your daily nutritional requirements after surgery. The following information is listed as guide. Always refer to and follow the directions of your physician or dietitian.
Protein: Protein powders and shakes are an ideal way to increase your protein consumption. Things to look for in a protein supplement:
• Whey Protein Isolate or Concentrate
• 5 grams or less of fat
• At least 10 grams of protein per serving
Recommended: 60 grams (women) to 80 grams (men) daily
Whey Protein comes in Isolate is the fastest absorbing form of protein
Sublingual B-12: Vitamin B-12 is normally absorbed in the stomach and the first part of the intestine. This has been bypassed making it important to take the sublingual form under your tongue.
Recommended: 500 mg, two times per week.
Chewable Vitamins: Your Multivitamins should have at least the following amounts of nutrients listed on the label:
• 400 IU Vitamin D
• 1.5 mg Thiamin
• 400 mcg Folic Acid
• 18 mg Iron **
• 12 mg Zinc
** Take Multivitamins separate from your Calcium Supplement. (At least 2 hours. Iron prevents absorption of calcium)
Recommended Use: Take one, two times per day.
Chewable Calcium Citrate: After surgery Calcium Citrate is the most absorbable form. Vitamin D aids in the absorption of the calcium.
• Take separately from your Multivitamin (allow at least 2 hours if your vitamin contains iron).
• You can only absorb 500 mgs at one time.
Recommended: Take 500 mgs, 3 times per day.
Iron: If your lab results show low levels, you may be required to take an additional iron supplement. Check with your physician.
Vitamin D: Check with your physician regarding your Vitamin D levels.