Bariatric surgery is about living a healthier lifestyle. The most critical aspect of improving one's health is nutrition. Proper nutrition can be simple. There are several key factors to take into account: water, macronutrients, and micronutrients. Using an app like Baritastic to track carbs, fats, and proteins can be very helpful. Tracking your nutrients and taking supplemental vitamins after surgery is vital to make sure you get all the vitamins and nutrients that your body needs.
Let's take a look at the vitamins most essential to take after bariatric surgery:
- Vitamin B1 assists with converting food into energy, helping provide a healthy liver, skin, and hair.
- Iron is a nutrient that plays many crucial roles in the body, including keeping you healthy and energetic. Your body uses iron to make hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body.
- Vitamin B12 helps the body manufacture new red blood cells and contributes to a healthy central nervous system.
- Calcium our body needs calcium to build and maintain strong bones. The heart, muscles, and nerves also need calcium to function properly.
- Vitamin D is needed to assist in absorbing calcium and promote bone growth. Vitamin D is also required to support immune, brain, and nervous system health, regulate insulin levels and support diabetes management.
The patient's specific dosages for vitamins and nutrients will be provided in the surgeon's office because they differ from patient to patient. Choose a bariatric-specific vitamin that follows the ASMBS guidelines to ensure your micronutrient needs get fulfilled—work closely with your surgeon or dietitian to assist you in your road to recovery and healthy living. Creating a schedule, sticking to it, and finding a vitamin regimen that works for you is the key to achieving long term success and health after bariatric surgery.
Dr. Arif Ahmad specializes in laparoscopic robotic surgery and has performed over 2,000 laparoscopic robotic surgeries, including bariatric surgery. He is renowned in the Long Island area for his impeccable track record of safety and success.
