Dietary Recommendations After Gastric Bypass Surgery

Written by Protica Research


When obesity gets out of hand, unresponsive to dietary, lifestyle and medical interventions, drastic measures are needed to cut down calorie intake. Morbid obesity with a BMI (body mass index, a measure of malnutrition) above 40 kg/m2 is an indication for surgical procedures such as gastric bypass surgery. Gastric bypass is now a well-trodden path to lower BMI’s and achieve healthier lives in 18 months or so. First used inrepparttar 1950’s, onlyrepparttar 113980 last two decades have seen safe and successful gastric bypass surgery with any consistency. Half a century of meticulous observations and patient follow-up has led torepparttar 113981 formulation of strict guidelines to ensure desired results.

Gastric bypass is a series of steps initiated starting withrepparttar 113982 decision to undergorepparttar 113983 procedure. Identifying existing nutritional deficiencies isrepparttar 113984 first step towards surgery. Vitamin and mineral deficiency often occur in obesity, and need to be addressed beforerepparttar 113985 procedure. The surgery itself has two goals; to reducerepparttar 113986 volume ofrepparttar 113987 stomach and shortenrepparttar 113988 food transit time inrepparttar 113989 intestine. After surgeryrepparttar 113990 stomach cannot receive large meals or participate in digestion. This by itself limits food intake. Food also bypasses a large part ofrepparttar 113991 intestine and has little time to interact with liver and pancreatic enzymes. As a result, nutrition absorbed from diet drops drastically. In most types of gastric bypass surgeries done today only 50 cm ofrepparttar 113992 intestine is allowed to function in normal fashion. Compare this to food absorption taking over 7 feet of small and large intestine before surgery.

With such a radical reduction inrepparttar 113993 capacity to assimilate food,repparttar 113994 postoperative period can be rather tricky. Only clear fluids are advised forrepparttar 113995 first two days while waiting for gut to recover. The gut is then re-trained for about two months before it can go back to a normal diet. Duringrepparttar 113996 recovery periodrepparttar 113997 limitations imposed byrepparttar 113998 gastric bypass procedure should be kept in mind. After surgeryrepparttar 113999 stomach has become much smaller and can only hold approximately eight ounces at a time. The stomach has also lost its ability to pulverize food to initiate digestion. Consequentlyrepparttar 114000 appropriate diet for postoperative recovery would be a liquid to soft solid diet that can be taken six to eight times a day in small quantities. Nutrient fluids are preferable since they can provide hydration and energy atrepparttar 114001 same time. Non-nutrient fluids are best avoided or at least restricted to in-between meals.

The type of nutrient chosen also deserves due consideration. The chosen macronutrient should not affectrepparttar 114002 stomach emptying time while providing enough energy to recover fromrepparttar 114003 surgery. In this regard carbohydrates and fats are at either end of a spectrum and neither is suitable. Carbohydrates pass through very quickly and produce very uncomfortable symptoms like vomiting, bloating, diarrhea and sweating. Fat slowsrepparttar 114004 gut considerably, and it is oftentimes ruled out because of its direct link to obesity. Research suggests thatrepparttar 114005 macronutrients of choice after gastric bypass surgery are proteins. Proteins do not change gastric transit time significantly. A high-protein diet can also provide enough amino acids for repair and growth after a major surgical procedure like gastric bypass.

Policosinol and Cholesterol Reduction

Written by Protica Research


The word cholesterol has become synonymous with poor health. Indeed, one does not typically hearrepparttar word used, or see it printed, unless it points to yet another distressing fact -- that high cholesterol isrepparttar 113979 number one factor for coronary heart disease, andrepparttar 113980 number one cause of heart attacks[i].

However, cholesterol is, in itself, not a negative thing. Onrepparttar 113981 contrary, cholesterol plays a vital role in forming cell membranes, regulating hormones, insulating nerves, and more. The problem with cholesterol therefore lays not in cholesterol itself, butrepparttar 113982 amount of cholesterol present inrepparttar 113983 bloodstream. For most Americans who talk and read about this subject,repparttar 113984 scenario almost always involves too much cholesterol, orrepparttar 113985 condition known as hypercholesterolemia.

When there is too much cholesterol inrepparttar 113986 blood, it cannot easily dissolve, and thus cannot effectively be transported to cells byrepparttar 113987 carrier called low-density lipoprotein (LDL). This can create a build-up of LDL cholesterol (a.k.a. “bad cholesterol”), and start to interfere with arteries that transport blood torepparttar 113988 heart and brain. Both a stroke and a heart attack arerepparttar 113989 most severe manifestations of LDL cholesterol build-up, andrepparttar 113990 main reason why so many people are seeking ways to reducerepparttar 113991 LDL build-up in their bloodstream[ii].

However, reducing cholesterol has been fraught with challenges. Though reducing or eliminating certain foods from diet is a necessary first step for most individuals, some who suffer from hypercholesterolemia require medical interventions to immediately begin lowering their risk of heart attack or stroke. As such, dozens of cholesterol-lowering statin drugs are currently onrepparttar 113992 market, and while some people have experienced relief due to their use, there are side effects that cause concern, including nausea, diarrhea, muscle tenderness, and increased liver enzymes[iii]. The out-of-pocket costs of these statin drugs can also be cost prohibitive for those not covered by a comprehensive drug plan.

However, a natural product called policosinol is generating an unusual amount of attention – both positive and negative – fromrepparttar 113993 medical community in light of its purported cholesterol lowering capacity. Derived fromrepparttar 113994 wax of sugarcanes and honeybees, policosinol is said by some to reduce cholesterol, offer no known side effects, be safe in high doses, increase blood flow, reduce platelet clumps, and prevent atherosclerosis (plaque buildup onrepparttar 113995 artery walls)[iv].

Studies have been conducted on policosinol efficacy, and there is some empirical research evidence that supports it as a high LDL cholesterol remedy. A 2002 study by researchers atrepparttar 113996 University of Bonn reviewed 60 clinical trials involving 3000 patients, and concluded with cautious optimism that policosinol is a promising alternative to cholesterol lowering stain drugs, and thus warrants further study[v].

However, those poised to buy policosinol and lower their cholesterol should approach with caution; and this isrepparttar 113997 message voiced by those who are less than enthusiastic aboutrepparttar 113998 policosinol’s emergence as something of a wonder cure.

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