Growing up we’ve all heard that calcium is good for strong bones and teeth. However, there’s more to this mineral that you might not know about. Calcium is an alkaline mineral that is great for several parts of your body’s processes.
In fact, calcium is found all throughout your body in places like blood, tissues, and nerves, and not just bones. It’s the most common mineral in the human body.
Therefore, getting enough calcium will be essential in healing from your weight loss surgery and maintaining your new figure.
But why is it important for bariatric patients to consume calcium for better health? And how much calcium should a bariatric patient take? Let’s answer that right now:
Bariatric Calcium Requirements
Calcium Deficiency
Calcium for bariatric surgery patients is crucial. Calcium deficiency can cause conditions like osteoporosis and soft bones. This makes you more likely to fracture your pelvic bone, hip, wrist, or even spine. Therefore calcium rich foods are important.
Some of the foods that can give you calcium are yogurt, milk, broccoli, kale, fish, soy products, and fruit juices.
Blood Pressure
Calcium also helps you maintain a healthy blood pressure level. As your blood pressure is going to change after bariatric surgery, calcium becomes an essential nutrient.
Thyroid
Your thyroid gland will be affected after bariatric surgery. This regulates your hormones. You want to keep a proper level of blood calcium. If you don’t, you could have hyperparathyroidism. This could cause other health complications.
Decreased Intestinal Acid
Gastric sleeve and gastric bypass surgery can decrease the amount of acid you have to digest food and calcium. This is due to either reducing the size of the stomach or completely bypassing it.
How Much Calcium Does A Bariatric Patient Need?
You could have a metabolic bone disorder if you don’t consume enough vitamins minerals like calcium and vitamin D.
Aim to consume around 1500-2000 mg of calcium citrate as a supplement daily. Your doctor or surgeon can advise you on the proper amount, but this is one way to get enough calcium if you can’t get it through your diet alone.
Supplementing Calcium Citrate
In a gastric bypass, for instance, the part of your body that absorbs calcium is skipped over. This means it won’t absorb as much of the calcium that you naturally consume. You need other ways to supplement it.
Taking pills can help you make sure that you avoid health conditions we mentioned above, like osteoporosis or bone disease.
Conclusion: Why Is Calcium Important For Bariatric Patients
Calcium is one of the most underrated minerals, yet one of the most important parts of a healthy diet. Many multivitamins that you can take today won’t have enough calcium in them.
Your reduced amount of stomach acid means you need more calcium to digest enough of this important mineral.
Consult Dr. Jalil Illan Fraijo today for bariatric surgery in Mexico. He can help you understand how much calcium after bariatric surgery is sufficient. That way you maintain not just your weight loss goals, but your overall health condition.
