Bariatric Surgery Diet – Best protein sources for Vegetarian Patients



vegan, vegetarian



A common concern about vegetarian or vegan post-op diets is that they might lack sufficient protein. However, many nutritionists agree that a well-planned vegetarian or vegan diet can provide you all the necessary nutrients for a healthy lifestyle. Most importantly, people who follow a vegetarian lifestyle have been shown to carry a lower body weight, have better cholesterol levels, greater longevity, and lower risk of developing cancer.

At Long Term WLS we care about our patient’s particular needs, therefore here are some recommendations on how to meet your protein requirements during your weight loss journey being a vegan or vegetarian bariatric surgery patient.
A bariatric surgery patient must follow special dietary recommendations to insure the achievement of weight loss goals and weight maintenance. Since day one after bariatric surgery, there’s one factor that you will find steady from day one: protein intake.
High-quality protein does not only promote weight-loss, is also fundamental for proper wound healing, muscle strength and satiety. Besides that, sufficient protein intake can help to boost the metabolism and control cravings. With that being said, a bariatric surgery patient goal should be a minimum of 65 to 75 grams of protein per day. General symptoms of a poor quality protein intake can include musclecramping, weakness, bone pain, lack of energy and soreness.



Choosing a better quality of foods and incorporating new and healthier eating habits


One of the greatest challenges after bariatric surgery in Mexico with Dr. Jorge Maytorena at Long Term WLS is choosing a better quality of foods and incorporating new and healthier eating habits. A vegetarian bariatric surgery patient may ask “how can I reach 65 to 75 grams of protein daily if I don’t eat animal protein?”, especially when the size of the stomach is significantly reduced, limiting the amount of food that the patient can consume. The key is to choose foods that pack a lot of nutrition in a relatively small portion size, because certain plant foods contain significantly more protein than others.



Here are some meatless and plant-based foods that contain a high amount of protein per serving:


1.     Greek Yogurt: 23 grams of protein per cup.

2.     Lentils: 4 grams of protein per 1/4 cup (cooked).

3.     Black Beans (chickpeas, black beans, etc.): 4 grams of protein per 1/4 cup (cooked).

4.     Cottage cheese: 14 grams of protein per 1/2 cup.

5.     Hemp seeds: 4 grams of protein per 1 tablespoon.

6.     Chia seeds: 3 grams of protein per 1 tablespoon.

7.     Edamame: 5 grams of protein per 1/4 cup (shelled).

8.     Tofu: 8 grams of protein per 100 grams.

9.     Green peas: 8 grams of protein per cup.

10.  Quinoa: 8 grams of protein per cup (cooked).

11.  Almonds: 3 grams of protein per 1/2 ounce.

12.  Eggs: 6 grams of protein per egg.

13.  Spinach: 5 grams of protein per cup (cooked).

14.  Artichokes: 4.2 grams of protein per medium vegetable.

15.  Peanut butter: 3.5 grams of protein per tablespoon. Look for the unsalted and sugar free presentation.

16.  Soy Milk: 7 grams of protein per cup

17.  Plant based Protein Shakes (Vital in the liquid diet stage): 15 to 25 grams of protein per scoop, it may vary according to the brand or presentation.

A vegetarian and vegan diet can be a part of a bariatric lifestyle! You just have to get creative and know when to ask for help during this journey. While you’re adjusting to your newer and healthier eating habits, it’s highly recommended getting assistance from a nutritionist.





Location: Playas de Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico

Popular posts from this blog

Weight loss surgery in Mexico? Do I qualify for surgery?

Image
Does the following information sound familiar to you?... Maybe you are a perfect candidate for weight loss surgery • Body Mass Index of 31 and higher, or more than 100 pounds of overweight. • Obesity related diseases, such as type II diabetes (T2DM), hypertension, sleep apnea and other respiratory disorders, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, osteoarthritis, lipid abnormalities, gastrointestinal disorders, or heart disease… • Difficulty or inability to achieve a healthy weigh t loss sustained for a period of time with prior weight loss efforts. Apply for surgery and find out if you are a good candidate for weight loss surgery… Click here: http://longtermvsg.com/apply-for-surgery
Read more

RECOMMENDED “SOFT FOODS” – POST BARIATRIC SURGERY DIET

Image
Soft and blended food (3rd Phase)   If you had weight loss surgery and you just passed without any problem or discomfort the 1st phase (Clear liquids) and 2nd phase (Liquids), you may be ready to incorporate pureed, soft and blended food into your daily diet. The soft foods phase is followed 20 days post surgery.  The soft food stage must be initiated with “baby food texture” choices; foods that can be easily crushed with a fork or mixed to a ‘slurry’ with almond milk, coconut milk, soy milk or water (Avoid the daily consumption of dairy products). You may stay on this phase for as little as 10 days or for 2-3 weeks, once you feel signs of satisfaction on your stomach you can gradually advance into thicker textures. Keep in mind that your new stomach is just healing and recovering from surgery, learn to listen to your body and STOP eating once you feel satisfied, it’s better to eat 3 to 5 times per day in small portions so you can get enough nutrition without pushing ...
Read more

Types of bariatric surgeries!

Types of bariatric surgeries! Know your options for weight loss surgery. If you’re considering going through weight loss surgery, you might want to learn about the various types of procedures to choose what’s best for your goals, health, and lifestyle… Being informed before for weight loss surgery and talk it over with you surgeon it’s a great decision, both of you will decide what’s best according to your personal needs! In general term, a bariatric surgical procedure restrict the amount of food intake, causing malabsorption of nutrients, or by a combination of both gastric restriction and malabsoption achieving greater and maintainable weight loss results. Nowadays, a weight loss surgery can be performed using minimally invasive techniques (laparoscopic surgery). Open Surgery vs Laparoscopic Surgery Each type of bariatric surgery can be performed as a laparoscopic or open procedure, this is only referred to how abdominal cavity is entered and not the type of surg...
Read more