Being proactive with gut health is vital for weight loss surgery patients

Having any surgery, but especially weight loss surgery, disrupts your gut flora. As a WLS patient, it is vitally important you be proactive in understanding the important role your gut micro biome plays in optimizing your health after weight loss surgery.

New research shows weight loss surgery patients with healthy gut bacteria lose more weight

There have been several studies on gut health and weight loss surgery patients, but a recent study conducted in Sweden, Aug. 2015 in The Journal of Cell Metabolism, suggest that the gut microbiota may play a direct role in the reduction of adiposity (body fat) observed after bariatric surgery.

The small study compared 14 women nearly a decade after bariatric surgery in the following categories.

– Roux-en-y VS vertical banded gastroplasty VS no surgery

The results of the study show the bacteria belonging to the Genuses; Escherichia, Klebsiella and Pseudomonas were more abundant in the women who had undergone gastric bypass than those who did not have surgery.

You can read the full article here:

Weight loss surgery and changes in gut health

The researchers believe the changes in gut bacteria were related to the surgery itself rather than the weight loss.

The researcher’s conclusion…

“Being the first such study looking at increased positive gut health among Weight Loss Surgery patients. They were optimistic about future studies showing a positive correlation between the two.”

Research shows weight loss surgery patients who take probiotics lose more weight

Another study of 44 patients undergoing RNYGB, compared a group that took a probiotic and one that did not.
The study results show the group taking a probiotic after Roux-en-y gastric bypass surgery (RNYGB) had decreased bacterial overgrowth, improved vitamin B12 availability and increased weight loss at 6 weeks & 3 months.

You can read the results here:

Overall, the results from the probiotic group proved how altering your GI microbiota (your micro biome) can influence positive outcomes and increase weight loss.

The Standard American Diet and gut health

Unfortunately, the Standard American Diet (SAD) is rich in foods that have been proven to diminish your gut health by allowing the bad bacteria to flourish while inadequately providing the probiotic material need to grow the good bacteria.
The following common symptoms among weight loss surgery patients have been attributed to an imbalance where bad gut bacteria far outnumber the good.

Heartburn, bloating, indigestion, cramping, stomach pains, constipation, diarrhea, loose stools, and foul-smelling gas.

Whole real foods help promote a healthy gut

In order to diminish these unwanted symptoms, you want to follow a strategy that promotes an overall healthy micro biome by growing the good bacteria and minimizing the bad. This means avoiding processed foods, free sugars, and unhealthy fats and oils as these foods stimulate the growth of bad gut bacteria.

While increasing real fruits, vegetables, fermented foods and healthy fats and oils. You will also want to consider implementing a probiotic regimen as this helps grow the good bacteria developing a healthy micro biome.

If you are new to probiotics, confused by all the messaging, or simply looking to solve specific problems. You will want to subscribe to our WLS Gut Health podcast. Here, we will discuss which strands of probiotics are the most crucial for WLS patients, how they work and why you need to incorporate them in your daily regimen.

Fermented foods add to a healthy gut micro biome

Our ancestors consumed fermented and cultured foods on a regular basis. Having a large batch of “sauerkraut” or “cucumbers and pickles” brewing / fermenting for weeks used to be common place among those who cultivated and grew their own food.

This practice has fallen out of favor in today’s fast paced World. The good news is you can easily incorporate these foods in your daily diet without spending your entire weekend in the kitchen.

Here is a list of fermented and cultured foods you can find readily available in most grocery stores.

1. Kimchi
2. Kefir
3. Fermented/cultured vegetables
4. Miso
5. Tempeh
6. Kombucha or Kvass

If the idea of adding fermented foods sounds a little edgy. Perhaps, keeping an open mind and experimental taste buds will make this idea more exciting. Remember, a few bites at each meal will positively impact your gut micro biome while helping transform your gut health over time.