So now that you’ve had the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, are you are wondering how to best maintain your calcium levels? Well, not all calcium supplements will work the same!
Calcium is mostly absorbed in the first part of our small intestine, called the duodenum. As food is diverted from this area following Gastric Bypass, daily calcium supplementation is needed.
An article published in Obesity Surgery examined the difference between two different calcium supplements following Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass. In completely random fashion, patients were supplemented with either calcium citrate or calcium carbonate. The patients, and even the surgeons, did not know which supplement each was taking, so the experiment is considered a randomized, double-blinded study.
Only eighteen patients completed the study, however, it was well designed. Careful statistical analysis revealed calcium citrate had significantly better blood evidence than calcium carbonate.
Just remember, if you need additional supplementation beyond two daily multivitamins, stick with Calcium citrate. It is typically sold over the counter as Citracal®, or Citracal® Liquitab.
Be realistic. Set appropriate short-term goals for weight loss during the holidays, and be sure to at least maintain your current weight.
If you are cooking for Thanksgiving, here are just a few ways to avoid unnecessary, excess calories. Most importantly, don’t wait until dinner to eat! Scatter some healthy protein through the day because going to the Thanksgiving table too hungry could be your first mistake! You may want to try cooking the stuffing separate form the bird. You could also consider using fat free mushroom soup in your green bean casserole. Sweet potatoes and yams have less refined carbohydrates than regular mashed potatoes (however, be careful of how canned yams are preserved – many will have unwanted calories from excess carbohydrates used in the preservation process). Always reach for the skinless turkey – yes, the skin does contain some nutrients, but none that are essential and far more fat and cholesterol. As eggs will certainly be needed in some of your recipes, consider using two egg whites instead of one egg white with yolk. Also, consider substitutions for sugar and whipped cream – ie. Splenda, non-dairy Cool Whip Free.
Greetings! Halloween is just around the corner. Whether you are dressing up some little ones for trick-or-treating or just answering the doorbell, here are a few hints and facts to reduce your holiday calories.