Caffeine is the most widely used psychoactive substance on earth,” says Dr. Solomon Snyder, director of the neurosciences department at Johns Hopkins University. Most of us won’t wake up till we get our morning cup of coffee. So, probably that’s one of your common questions if you’re considering bariatric surgery because most bariatric surgeons advise their patients not to consume caffeine after weight loss surgery.To be honest, it’d be better if you stop using caffeine once for all, but if that’s the one thing you’re not capable of, you should know that you can never have caffeine the same way you were used to doing in your pre bariatric lifestyle. There are strict limitations and instructions you must follow. First, you must know why caffeine is not beneficial to your post-op health circumstances, and then if still, you’re willing to have it in your life, how you can adapt caffeine habits to your new life to minimize the risk.
Why No Caffeine After Bariatric Surgery
Caffeine decreases your fatigue, speeds you up, improves your emotional health, short-term memory, and your mind’s overall functioning.The amazing effects of caffeine that make coffee and other caffeine beverages so tempting are numerable. But, what matters to bariatric surgery patients is the limited but significant facts about caffeine that can cause serious problems for weight loss surgery patients.
1- Dehydration
If you have high blood pressure, you might have used diuretics, medications prescribed by doctors to increase the amount of water, and salt that leaves out your body through urination. The biggest issue with caffeine is exactly this because it is a natural diuretic.The readers who have visited our blog post on diet guidelines after bariatric surgery know the importance of hydration and drinking water and liquids after bariatric surgery. So, try to limit your caffeine usage as much as possible, and pay even more attention to keeping your body hydrated by increasing your water intake after caffeine consumption.
2- Killing Patients Appetite
After the weight-loss operation, patients mostly have to deal with a lack of hunger. But you must eat a certain amount of food to get the necessary nutrients to your body and prevent malnutrition.Caffeine is famous for its appetite-killing abilities. Now you might think that what you want after surgery is for your unfulfilling hunger to vanish forever. This is something that happens naturally and stays with you sometimes for months after surgery. You don’t need any extra help with that.Moreover, you have protein needs you should meet to recover better and maintain muscle mass. After successful bariatric surgery, most bariatric surgery patients almost never feel hungry, and coffee will add up to that.
3- Difficulties in Food Digestion
Malabsorptive types of bariatric surgery change the process of food digestion in your body by limiting the vitamins and other nutrients absorbed by your body.Caffeine also makes some changes in nutrient absorption by increasing gut motility. This can result in the exertion of foods that have not been digested yet and malfunction in proper nutrient absorption.
4- Irritating Stomach
Because of the acidic nature of caffeinated beverages, there is a chance you feel irritation in your stomach after consuming caffeine. It might also cause vomiting, diarrhea, and slight burning in the stomach.
Some Tips When Drinking Caffeinated Drinks
How many cups of coffee do you drink now? 1, 2, 3,…, 5? Well, if your answer stands somewhere above numbers 3 and 5, or even more, you must know that you can never go back to that routine.Even if you drink only 2 cups of coffee a day, you MUST start with one cup of coffee per day, and not right after the bariatric procedures, but at least 30 days after surgery. Your coffee drinking habits need a fundamental change.Here are some do’s and don’ts when getting your daily caffeine intake:
 |
✓ |
| Toppings like whipped cream | Non-fat or low-fat creamer |
| Flavored syrups | Skim milk, Non-fat milk, or almond milk |
| Small-size cup of drinks | |
| Limit your caffeine consumption per week | |
| Limit your caffeine consumption per day | |
| Black, decaffeinated coffee |
Be creative. There are always alternatives for coffee that can make you feel awesome with the least side effects:
Check the Labels on all Drinks and Foods
You should be more sensitive about whatever you eat and drink. While you check the amount of fat, sugar, and protein, you should watch out for caffeine content as well. After all, it’s not just found in the coffee family. So, beware of all caffeinated food, and of course, energy drinks.Also, remember, you should ask your surgeon and their bariatric surgery team, the dietitian in particular, about exact instructions on consuming coffee depending on your individual circumstances.
