If you’ve had bariatric surgery or are considering it, then you need to know what vitamins and supplements work best for your body. In this blog post, we’ll cover everything from calcium to iron, fiber to omega-3s, protein to vitamin D.
This is a post with tons of information that will help you get the most out of your new life! There are three main questions related to vitamins post-bariatric surgery. What vitamins should I take? Is there anything I should avoid? Are there any specifics when taking the vitamins?
Difference between normal and post-bariatric vitamins
There are some pretty big differences when it comes to normal vitamins and post-bariatric ones. For example, normal vitamins are taken by people on a regular, daily basis, for different reasons. They are less absorptive and are more likely to cause some irritation on the stomach lining.
Bariatric advantage vitamins and supplements are made for postoperative patients. After weight loss surgery, your body is different, and it needs different things. Post-bariatric vitamins and supplements help your body heal while giving it all the nutrients it needs. They are easily resorbable, and most importantly, they don’t cause irritations. Pain from an irritated stomach is the last thing you’d want post-op.
Post-bariatric vitamins and supplements
B-complex
B-complex is a set of 8 water-soluble vitamins that help the body convert food into energy. These vitamins are also essential for brain function, cell growth, and blood sugar regulation. Deficiencies in vitamin B can lead to fatigue, weakness, and depression.
Post-surgery, vitamins of the B group are essential since they promote cell growth and help your body heal. Also, they will help out in easing your worries after surgery, since they help the body relax.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C helps the body fight off infections and boost the immune system. It also promotes skin health. This vitamin has tons of benefits, and you should consume it all the time, not just after surgery. Surgery-related, vitamin C helps with wound healing. Because of its properties, it helps the body produce healthy cells.
Vitamin D
It’s usually a vitamin that we get with the help of the Sun. It is found in a well-balanced diet, so we rarely experience deficiencies, but after surgery, it can occur occasionally. We need it to have healthy bones, teeth, and muscles. Post-surgery, vitamin D helps with muscle recovery and it is extremely important.
Magnesium
Magnesium is a supplement that we take after a workout or beforehand. It is important for our muscles, since it gives them the energy to perform, and it reduces tiredness. It should be recommended to you after a weight loss surgery because your muscles experienced some trauma, and now they need some rest and healing.
Calcium
Calcium also has tons of benefits to our body, and a lot of functions as well. Post-surgery, some patients may experience low calcium levels. This will pass over time, and just a little percent of patients develop consistent low levels of Ca. that is why doctors often recommend taking Calcium every day after-op.
Iron
We’ll finish off this list with iron. A supplement that has tons of functions in the body. For example, it helps carry oxygen to every cell in the body, and carbon from the cells, to the lungs, which we later on exhale. During surgery, you experience some blood loss, and you lose iron as well. Because of that, anemia may occur, accompanied by fatigue, paleness, etc. To prevent that from happening, you need to take iron as a precaution.
“Copyright: Unsplash | CC0 Public Domain”
Vitamins and supplements that you should avoid
There are some things that you should avoid post-bariatric surgery. Most of them should be avoided because they can thin out the blood, and make you more prone to bleeding out. Also, they make the time of coagulation longer, which means your wound will bleed longer than normal. Also, things like green tea, contain caffeine and are known to elevate blood pressure. Here’s a shortlist of things you should avoid post-surgery:
- Vitamin A
- Beta-carotene
- Green tea
- Large quantities of vitamin E
- Grape seed extract
Summary
There are tons of reasons to take vitamins post-surgery. They will boost your immune system, help you heal, and they will give you strength and energy. Also, they will prevent any deficiencies that may occur. Either way, you should always consult with your doctor before starting with any vitamin or supplement.