Gastric Bypass surgery changes a person’s digestion and limits the amount of nutrients their body receives, even when following a healthy diet. Once the procedure is complete, one may need to take daily vitamin and mineral supplements to help ensure they’re getting enough essential nutrients.
How Much Is Enough?
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The Mayo Clinic recommends 1,200–1,500 milligrams of calcium per day after gastric bypass surgery. Calcium consumed from foods like milk, spinach, and cheese counts towards this daily goal; however, after gastric bypass surgery, the body is only able to absorb 500–600 milligrams of calcium at one time. So, to enhance calcium absorption, some doctors recommend patients take a calcium supplement in addition to a diet rich in calcium, divided into three doses throughout the day. It is important that your calcium and vitamin d levels are optimum pre-surgery as there is an increased risk of becoming deficient in these nutrients after surgery. In fact, after two years, research shows that calcium deficiency develops in up to 50% of patients that have undergone gastric bypass.
Viactiv: Where Tasty Meets Healthy
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Viactiv calcium soft chews are made with 650mg of calcium carbonate which has a higher concentration of elemental calcium than calcium citrate. Calcium carbonate is absorbed best when taken with food. Viactiv soft chews also contain 500IU of Vitamin D which is necessary for the body to absorb calcium. Lifelong adherence to dietary calcium and vitamin D is very important to maintain calcium levels post gastric bypass surgery.