Colorado Bariatric Surgery Institute
Monday, October 13, 2008
Everything you need to know about your protein supplement
When looking at the various protein supplements either on-line or in the supplement aisle of your local grocery, buyers beware. As bariatric surgery has gained popularity over the years, so have companies marketing ploys for protein supplements. As with most things in life, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Selecting the most appropriate protein supplements after surgery can be rather confusing, given the large selection available. Remember your Bariatric Dietitian (BD) is always available to help with any questions you might have. Every binder given to you as the patient has a BD approved list of protein supplements that are available on the open market. If you find a supplement which you are interested in and is not on the list simply call the BD to discuss.
Here are a couple simple rules to follow when reading a protein supplement label:
1) The most common form of protein in supplements is called Whey Protein. This usually comes in two forms.
a) Whey Protein Isolate is the most pure form and subsequently is higher in protein and lower in lactose. Some common brands on the market that only use Whey Protein Isolate are Unjury, Isopure and Beneprotein.
b) Whey Protein Concentrate is lower in protein and slightly higher in lactose. Some common brands on the market are Procel and EAS 100% Whey protein powder.
2) When reading product labeling you normally will see Whey Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Concentrate or what is known as Whey Protein Blend which is promoted as a combination of the first two.
3) Unfortunately, according to federal regulations when a manufacturer uses the term blend they only have to use 25% of the higher quality Whey Protein Isolate.
Bottom line: The more pure form of protein with the least additives is the healthier choice when selecting a supplement.
Collagen is another form of protein often used in most clear liquid protein supplements. Sometimes these are referred to as a shot or bullet. Collagen is not recommended for any bariatric surgery patient due to the low quality of the protein. Collagen is lacking essential amino acids that your body needs to receive from food. Also, remember that trying to get the recommended 60 grams of protein a day in one meal serving is not advised. You are encouraged to spread your protein intake throughout your meals in order to reach your goal protein intake of 60 to 80 grams per day.
posted by Shannon Smiley, RD at 7:00 AM
Monday, October 6, 2008
Nutrition and Hair Loss in the Bariatric Patient
A common fear and complaint of bariatric surgery is postoperative hair loss. Nutrition can have a great impact on hair health because when forced to make a choice, the body will shift nutritional stores to vital organs like the brain and heart and away from the hair.
Hair loss can have many causes. Nutritional issues aside, bariatric surgery patients already have two of the major risk factors for hair loss including major surgery and rapid weight loss. These alone can account for hair loss seen right after surgery. In the absence of nutritional issues, hair loss will stop once the body has healed from surgery and the rapid weight loss slows and stops. Hair will then begin to re-grow. It is because of this that we encourage post bariatric surgery patients to have patience and keep up good nutritional intake and their hair will grow back once weight loss steadies. There is little evidence that early hair loss is preventable because it is most likely caused by the surgery and rapid weight loss. When preparing for surgery just be aware that this is a potential temporary side effect.
If you find that you hair continues to fall out once your weight loss has steadied (usually after a year for bypass and two to three for lap band) then you should consult your nutritionist to determine if there are any nutritional deficiencies occurring. Things that your nutritionist will look at include iron, zinc, protein and biotin. Never hesitate to contact our office if you have questions or issues related to this topic. That is what we are here for.
posted by allison at 6:00 AM
