Integrating Protein Supplements into Your Post-Bariatric Diet: Tips for Optimal Intake

In the early post-bariatric surgery days protein shakes are important to be a part of patient’s diet in order to help them achieve their protein goals. As the time progresses and patients can eat more solid foods, they tend to decrease intake of protein shakes. While, it is important to check with the bariatric dietician that with increment in solid food intake how much protein supplements you still need to add to bridge the gap so you can hit your target protein intake.

Optimum protein intake is vital in both short and long-term after bariatric surgery to help ensure fullness and satiety, and to maintain muscle mass during the process of weight/fat loss. Previous research suggests that whey protein isolate helps lose more fat-mass, with no change in muscle mass, compared to those who did not take whey protein isolate based supplements.

Integrating Protein Supplements into Your Post-Bariatric Diet

Protein requirement should be assessed individually based on patient’s gender, age, and body weight. A minimum of 60g/ day to 1.5 g/kg ideal body weight per day protein should be given to all post-bariatric surgery patients. Though, the worry is whether a patient is able to consume at least 60g of protein daily with just diet. If yes, awesome, if not, protein supplements are needed to help you meet your protein targets.

Post-surgery, patients should start taking protein supplements from day 3 as they’re the only source of good quality as well as quantity of protein in their liquid diet and should be continued over pureed then normal diet. However, if you doesn’t like having protein shakes with water, here are plenty of ways to include protein powders in your meals, such as:

• Add to milk/ yoghurt based porridges, milk shakes or smoothies. Greek yogurt to boost an already high protein source
• Mix in with your dosa, cheela, uttapam, idli or pancake batter
• Add to your fruit slush and freeze as a popsicle
• Stir in your soups, coffee and tea to give a high protein kick , and
• Whip with dips and chutneys to make a high-protein accompaniment.

Remember, protein is your building block, never compromise on it!!