Gastric bypass surgery is a life changing procedure, in many ways. One of those life changes is having to follow a restricted bariatric diet.
After your surgery, your doctor will provide you certain guidelines on what foods and drinks you can have after these surgeries.
Following these guidelines is essential for proper recovery. But one of those guidelines in particular might have you scratching your head and wondering, “why no caffeine after a gastric bypass?”
Let’s take a closer look at why you’re allowed no caffeine after a gastric sleeve surgery.
Why Can You Not Have Caffeine After A Gastric Bypass?
For some time after your surgery, you’ll have to avoid coffee and other caffeinated beverages. There are a number of reasons why no coffee after a gastric sleeve procedure is allowed:
- Acidity: Coffee and other caffeinated beverages are often highly acidic. This can irritate your stomach and lead to acid reflux, delaying healing. This is one of the biggest reasons why no caffeine after gastric sleeve surgery is advisable.
- Dehydration: Caffeine is a diuretic, meaning it can cause dehydration. Gastric sleeve patients are at increased risk of dehydration, so caffeine can be dangerous
- Increased gut motility: Caffeine increases the motility of your gut. This may lead to malabsorption of essential nutrients, as food passes too quickly to be properly absorbed
- Decreased nutrient absorption: Caffeinated beverages can reduce the absorption of nutrients like calcium and iron, due to the action of chemicals called “polyphenols.” These nutrients are essential for proper recovery.
So as you can see, the answer to the question of “why can you not have caffeine after gastric bypass” is “because it will slow your recovery.” Caffeinated beverages like coffee have a number of detrimental effects that will make your gastric sleeve recovery longer and more difficult.
Can You Drink Coffee After Gastric Bypass Surgery?
As we’ve seen, there’s a good reason why no coffee after gastric bypass is allowed. The caffeine can have a number of negative effects that will slow your recovery. But you might be wondering, can you drink decaf coffee after gastric bypass?
There’s no caffeine allowed after a gastric sleeve procedure, but what about coffee with no caffeine?
While the lack of caffeine does make decaf a better choice, it’s still not ideal. Decaf coffee is still highly acidic, and still contains polyphenols that reduce absorption of key nutrients. For these reasons, you should still avoid decaf after your gastric bypass surgery.
Why No Caffeine After Gastric Sleeve Surgery? The Answer: Because It Will Slow Your Recovery
It’s generally recommended to wait at least a month after your gastric bypass to start reintroducing caffeine to your diet. But, you should always consult with your doctor if you’re unsure.
Gastric sleeve surgery is an amazing, minimally invasive procedure that can help you lose weight. Curious about the procedure? Don’t hesitate to contact us at St. Louis Bariatrics for the best gastric bypass in St. Louis, MO.
