Bariatric surgery is a weight loss procedure that reduces the size of the stomach. The downside to this is that it can lead to vitamin deficiencies and malnutrition. Because of this, there are multiple Bariatric Advantage multivitamins available on the market, helping you heal faster and recover without pain.

If you’re looking into having this procedure, it pays to be educated on how your body will change and what you’ll need after surgery. 

In this post we’ll discuss the best vitamins to take after having a bariatric surgery like those available from Dr. Joshua Long and why they’re necessary. We’ll also cover the side effect of not taking vitamins. If these sound like something you want to learn more about, then read on!

#1 Multivitamins

One important thing that can help is taking multivitamins to ensure your body is getting the important nutrients it needs. Multivitamins have been shown to reduce physical and mental fatigue, improve mood, decrease the risk of infection and improve wound healing in people who’ve had weight-loss surgery.

#2 Calcium with Vitamin D

Bariatric surgery has been shown to cause risks including kidney stones, constipation, Vitamin D deficiency, and bone fractures. 

Calcium supplements can greatly reduce the risk of these potential side effects – especially calcium that includes Vitamin D. In a study done by UCLH Hospital in London it was found that osteoporosis is far less of a danger for people who take calcium supplements with Vitamin D after bariatric surgery than those who do not take them – suggesting they are vital to providing the proper nutritional needs for healing from this procedure. Without sufficient amounts of calcium, bones will weaken and become more susceptible to breaking down as there are minerals lost over time.

#3 Iron and Vitamin C

Iron and Vitamin C are two very important items to take after this kind of surgery. Iron is necessary because of the dramatic reduction in food intake, which causes the body to release iron from stores. Vitamin C is necessary because of the stress on muscles during this procedure. The lack of meat in our diet can also present problems with muscle breakdown and Vitamin C will help prevent that.

In other words, Iron and Vitamin C are important because they help create new blood cells, which can become more scarce after weight loss as the body needs less. Iron also helps prevent anemia and Vitamin C helps with overall immune health.

#4 Vitamin D

One of the primary mechanisms of Vitamin D is suppressing inflammation, which can be a major problem post-surgery due to the reduced level of stomach acid, plus the limited variety and volume of food. If inflammation remains unchecked, it can lead to decreased appetite, poor wound healing among other risks.

Before bariatric surgery, patients were often deficient in Vitamin D because their intake of food and fats was inadequate. With lower stomach acidity caused by surgery, fat-soluble vitamins can be released from foods into the body without being absorbed – so deficiency is common. Furthermore, these changes in diet and body chemistry are permanent. Therefore it’s important for all post-op patients to pay particular attention to maintaining sufficient levels of Vitamin D.

#5 Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is important because it affects the functioning of every cell in your body. When you’re coping with bariatric weight-loss surgery, not having enough Vitamin B12 can make you anemic and deprive your tissues, organs, and brain of oxygen. A lack of oxygen affects almost every bodily function, including digestion and nerve transmission. Without sufficient levels of vitamin B in general, stress becomes more difficult for your body to cope with as they are responsible for keeping us mentally alert. Plus Vitamin B12 helps prevent the buildup of homocysteine (a dangerous compound) that can lead to blood vessel damage or strokes.

The most crucial vitamin after Bariatric Surgery is Vitamin B12 which helps with red blood cell production as well as nerve function.

Just to note that vitamins should be only taken after one or two weeks of surgery, not right away. Also if you have this kind of surgery you should take these vitamins for the rest of your life!

Difference between Normal and Post-Bariatric Vitamins

After bariatric surgery, your body needs to recover from all that happened. Changes afterward are almost immediate, in terms of food and diet. Because bariatric surgery reduces the size of the stomach, it affects the amount of food you can take. At first, you start with liquids, and you move to solids once your body heals. Vitamins are a big NO in the first couple of weeks post-surgery. 

The best way to take vitamins is through a healthy and balanced diet. After bariatric surgery, it takes a while before your diet becomes that way, so the only possible solution for your body to get the vitamins it needs is from supplements. 

Normal vitamins resorb less and can be irritating to the stomach lining. Usually, they are taken by people who want to stay healthy, prevent diseases, prevent vitamin deficiencies. Post-bariatric vitamins, on the other hand, resorb way faster and don’t cause irritation on the stomach lining. 

Before purchasing any of the mentioned above, you should always consult with a doctor. They will prescribe the best vitamins for you. Usually, you will start taking them as soon as you’re able to process solid foods.  After a while, your body will be able to get all the vitamins and nutrients from the food you will take. 

Side Effects

If you’ve had bariatric surgery, your doctor will have given you a list of vitamins to take. It may seem like an easy thing to do, but taking these vitamins is crucial for your body and health after the procedure. What are some side effects if someone doesn’t take them? The most common symptoms are constipation or diarrhea due to poor nutrient absorption in the small intestine-something that can be treated with increased fiber intake as well as digestive enzymes. 

Another potential side effect is anemia if a patient lacks iron in their diet and supplements. Eating a well-balanced, high-fiber diet will help maintain proper nutrition and reduce these risks.

Some people experience nausea after eating as food passes more rapidly through the gastrointestinal tract and digestive enzymes are not properly released with each bite of food.

As we’ve discussed, the lifestyle changes that come with Bariatric Surgery can be significant. It would be a shame to not take care of your body and mind after surgery by eating well, exercising regularly, and taking vitamins.

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