As we know, having bariatric surgery comes with the responsibility of making some necessary sacrifices and lifestyle changes to adhere to your new nutritional needs.

One of the modifications involves cutting back on caffeine, which can be a difficult adjustment for some.

This blog post is meant to explain some of the main reasons why we don't recommend caffeinated drinks within the first month or so after bariatric surgery.

Caffeine is a stimulant that works on the central nervous system to make you more alert. It is used as a pick-me-up by millions of people around the world every day and can be found in coffee, tea, sodas, and energy drinks. But after weight loss surgery, caffeine sensitivity may become problematic. This is because caffeine speeds up the heart rate along with increasing blood pressure, changes how the stomach and intestines absorb liquids, and alters how effectively the body processes incoming nutrients.

Caffeine is a diuretic, which means it can deplete your body of water. After surgery, dehydration is a risk that shouldn't be taken lightly. During the first two weeks of post-op healing, it's recommended to sip on a few ounces of water every 20 minutes or so. This is because your new stomach size can only handle a few sips at a time, not only because it's much smaller but also because you're very swollen during the healing process. It is already a challenge to try to consume at least 6 cups of water by the end of each day.

Caffeine is not advised because this means that you'll lose more water than you take in with each cup of a caffeine beverage.

After surgery, your body needs extra vitamin supplementation to make up for what it isn't getting from food. Unfortunately, consuming caffeine can interfere with this process, making it harder to absorb important micronutrients like calcium and iron. This makes it even more important to take vitamins.

Also, choosing drinks with less caffeine can help limit the number of calories consumed. For people who have had weight loss surgery, being aware of what they eat and drink goes beyond counting calories. They also need to avoid certain foods and drinks that can cause unwanted side effects and slow them down.

People who have had Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy surgery are more likely to have acid reflux, and caffeine may make it worse or even slow down the healing process as a result.

As the body adjusts to weight loss surgery, it may become less sensitive to caffeine, and patients may be able to add small amounts of caffeine back into their diets based on their tolerance levels. Adults can safely take in between 200 and 300 mg of caffeine on average each day. Patients who have had weight loss surgery should try to stay away from caffeine drinks four to six hours before bedtime to avoid problems like sleeplessness or bad sleep. Most of the time, you can have caffeine again one month after surgery. If you want something sweeter, you can use a packet of stevia.

After weight loss surgery, it's a race, not a sprint, to figure out how much caffeine to drink and how to make smart choices about food and exercise. Every patient's journey is different, and for long-term success, it's important to pay close attention to the person's physical and mental needs.

Needing someone to support you in your post surgery phase? Check out my Small Bites Big Changes Cookbook for  Initial Post Surgery Phase with soft foods!