Is whey protein a good option after surgery?
After you’ve had surgery, your surgeon will provide you with a list what you can and cannot do. These guidelines are to help improve the outcome of your surgery and decrease the risk of post-surgical complications.
While in the hospital, you’ll be encouraged to move your body as soon as your doctor gives you the green light. A lack of activity can result in a whole host of problems, including blood clots, pressure ulcers, pulmonary embolisms, muscle atrophy, and bowel issues. Limited activity will help to improve circulation, your mood, and the healing process.
At home, you’ll need to make some changes to your diet in order to improve your immunity which promotes faster healing and to provide energy so that you can get back on your feet. After surgery, it’s not unusual for a patient to lose around 5-10% of his or her body weight in the days immediately after the procedure. Additionally, surgery causes a breakdown in skeletal muscle tissue to release amino acids that are needed at the site of the incision to help in the recovery process. And, your body continues to produce new cells needed to promote the development of blood vessels and skin.
Therefore, most doctors recommend increasing your protein intake during the recovery process; protein can come from sources such as lean meats, soy, and dairy. Supplementing with whey protein after surgery is often recommended because of its high bioavailability.
Post-op care
Getting adequate amounts of protein ensures that your body gets the nutrition it needs to repair any of the damage done during your surgery, to help restore your strength, and increase your body weight during recovery.
But, after you’ve had surgery, there are several reasons that you may not be able to increase your protein intake through diet alone. Some of these include:
- Difficulty swallowing or chewing
- Dry mouth and throat
- Diminished appetite due to medications or nausea
- Depression
- Overall fatigue
This is especially true for people who have undergone bariatric surgery and initially are not permitted to eat solid foods.
Whey protein post–surgery in the form of shakes is a great source of protein after weight loss surgery and if you’re experiencing post-surgical eating issues.
Getting better faster
If you’ve decided to undergo weight loss surgery, you may be asked to lose weight before your procedure, and your doctor will more than likely put you on a special diet with an increased protein intake. Drinking whey protein shakes before bariatric surgery ensures that you’re getting enough protein to prevent muscle loss while reducing the number of calories you’re consuming
Drinking whey protein after surgery is one of the best ways to get the protein you need to aid in the recovery process and to achieve your weight loss goals after the operation.
FlexFitPro whey protein isolate is low calorie, low carb, and packed with amino acids. And, it comes in two delicious flavors — Angel Food Cake and Chocolate Milkshake.