The first reason why we have prepared this site for you is to offer recipes with calculated protein amount. Because protein is the most important food group that an individual who has undergone obesity surgery should consume. In this article, we explained why it is important, protein sources, and what you should pay attention to when taking protein supplements.
Proteins are an important nutrient group responsible for construction and repair in our body. It is found in bone, muscle, organ and even hair and skin tissues. In addition, protein is essential for the proper functioning of the body and tissue healing.
An individual who has undergone obesity surgery should consume 60-80 g of protein daily in order to lead a healthy life. This intake may vary depending on gender, age, physical activity or disease status.
In order to prevent muscle loss with rapid weight loss after bariatric surgery, protein consumption should be done in the form of external supplements.
Since strict nutrition cannot be practiced in the first month after surgery, meat group foods, which are the most important protein source, cannot be consumed. For this reason, it is very important to use protein powder supplements to complete the protein deficit, especially in the first months.
What are the sources of protein?
The best sources of protein are red meat, poultry, fish, milk and dairy products and eggs. However, care should be taken to ensure that meat is cleaned of excess fat and milk and dairy products are consumed half-fat or fat-free.
Since solid food intake is insufficient in the early postoperative period, patients need to use additional foods. It is very important for patients who cannot get enough protein intake with liquid and pureed foods to take protein powder supplements in this period. Protein powder should be in the amount recommended by the bariatric dietitian. Formulations such as Whey protein isolate, which have better absorption, should be at the top of the preferences.
Patients who have undergone bariatric surgery need to follow a diet that they must follow in order to adapt to the new working order of the digestive system that has changed with the surgery and to avoid protein, vitamin and mineral deficiencies in the long term. Your Bariatric Dietitian will help you determine the right diet for you on this path.
What to look for when choosing a protein supplement?
There are a number of protein powders on the market and they are quite different from each other. Here are some important things to consider when choosing a protein powder:
- type of protein contained in the powder
- how much protein is in each serving
- how much sugar is added, how much fat is added
- whether it contains food coloring or artificial sweeteners.
The benefits of protein for patients who have undergone bariatric surgery:
- promotes wound healing after bariatric surgery
- helps the formation of hormones
- forms enzymes and antibodies of the immune system
- burns fat instead of muscle
- supports and accelerates metabolism
- controls hunger between meals by slowing digestion.
Along with protein supplementation, of course, determination and stability in changing eating habits and lifestyle are essential to achieve permanent and healthy weight loss after bariatric surgery. The goal of achieving weight loss after sleeve gastrectomy is to reduce calorie intake by reducing stomach volume and mobilizing body fat for energy production. However, muscle mass must be preserved. Therefore, fat and carbohydrates, not protein, are targeted in calorie reduction and patients are prescribed a protein-rich diet low in carbohydrates and fat. This diet includes a period of liquid nutrition, followed by a progression to soft and pureed foods, and finally more solid foods.
Your doctor and bariatric dietitian will support you in this process by explaining in detail the diet you should follow after surgery, what kind of foods you can consume and in what quantities.
