Why You Should Restrict Your Coffee Intake After Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric surgery has helped many patients who have struggled with obesity. Since it alters the size of your stomach and adjusts your digestive tract, these procedures make it easier to lose large amounts of unwanted weight. The surgery is only the first step, since you’ll need to make ongoing lifestyle changes to ensure that your body heals and that you lose weight while getting the proper nutrition and hydration.
One of those lifestyle changes may include your consumption of coffee. Although you might have grown accustomed to starting your day with a cup (or more) or coffee, you should restrict your intake after bariatric surgery for the following reasons:
Caffeine Can Impact Your Health and Nutrition
If you’re drinking regular coffee after bariatric surgery, it may contribute to health problems or struggles with diet and weight management. It’s not ideal to consume coffee after bariatric surgery for the following reasons.
- It makes dehydration more likely: Caffeine is a diuretic that causes your body to lose water through urination. Since bariatric patients must drink plenty of water, ingesting too much caffeine can lead to dehydration.
- It makes you more like to have gastric reflux: Caffeine increases gastric acids, which can lead to problems with gastric reflux.
- It affects your body’s ability to absorb several nutrients: It reduces your body’s ability to absorb calcium and iron.
- It can suppress your appetite: Caffeine can act as an appetite suppressant. Although this may sound like a good thing, it could make it more difficult for you to reach your protein goals.
Add-ins Contain Empty Calories
Even if you’re avoiding caffeine by drinking decaffeinated coffee, it’s not your best choice. Few people drink black coffee, with most adding in sugar, creamer, or other enhancements. These are empty calories that don’t give you any nutritional value but make it harder to lose weight.
There Are Better Options
It’s important to stay hydrated after bariatric surgery, and you have much better options than coffee when choosing a beverage. Water is always recommended, since it keeps you hydrated and doesn’t have added ingredients like sugar. If you get tired of plain water, you can always add some slices of lemon, strawberry, or even cucumber slices to give it a boost of flavor. Other alternatives include natural smoothies and caffeine-free herbal teas, but talk to your doctor for specific information about when you can have these.
Explore Bariatric Surgery Procedures Today
For more information about bariatric surgery, contact Laparoscopic and Endoscopic Surgery Institute, PC in the metro Atlanta area. We have four convenient offices, each of which has state-of-the-art facilities and experienced staff. We can help you decide if this procedure is right for you, and if so, make sure you understand everything you need to know before making a final decision.
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