Thinking About Weight-Loss Surgery? Better Read This
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted January 12, 2018
Nancy was a new patient sitting in my office.
And she was telling me a story I’d heard plenty of times before.
It had been 12 weeks since she had gastric bypass surgery to lose weight.
She felt EXHAUSTED… and looked it, too.
And of course she felt awful! The doctors removed part of her digestive tract responsible for absorbing nutrients.
When I told Nancy she was probably developing a serious nutritional deficiency… that she may be literally starving her organs and cells… she was shocked.
Most patients have no idea.
Many people have been led to believe that gastric bypass surgery is their ticket to better health… but you just may come out of the operation sicker than ever.
There are three main types of bariatric surgery: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, adjustable gastric banding, and biliopancreatic diversion/duodenal switch.
Here is what you need to know: ALL bariatric surgeries reduce the body’s ability to absorb nutrients.
This is crazy, because it’s already hard enough for people to meet their nutritional needs (most people are missing at least one key nutrient in their diet).
But getting enough nutrients is almost impossible for someone who has undergone bariatric surgery.
If you have had this surgery (or are thinking about it) it is important to understand that you can no longer get your nutritional needs met through diet alone–no matter the type of bariatric surgery you choose.
This is because the surgery reduces the ability of your body to absorb nutrients.
Studies have shown that many nutritional deficiencies are common in bariatric patients, such as iron and B vitamins (B12, B1, folate and vitamin B6). Other common deficiencies include protein, essential fatty acids, calcium, and vitamins A, C, D, K and E.
These deficiencies lead to mental problems due to a lack of essential fatty acids and B Vitamins.
Your way out of this? You need to take double the amount of nutrients that a person without surgery takes.
- Multivitamin: I suggest that you take a multivitamin with every meal. This spreads out the dose and makes it more likely that you absorb the nutrients. You want to make sure you are taking up to twice the recommended dosage.
- Essential Fatty Acids: I talk a lot about omega-3 fatty acids because they are necessary for our health. After surgery, you need to take between three to six grams of fish oil every day. Some patients find it hard to digest these pills, so spreading them out during the day is a great idea.
- Other nutrients: I suggest a good protein supplement you can take in a smoothie. Add in fiber (I love ground flax seed) and think about a powdered super-food you can put in the smoothie.
Besides the above, consider getting shots of B vitamins to compensate for your poor digestion.
Health and Happiness,
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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