Ep 50: The Non-Sexy Stuff | Bariatric Vitamins
This post is a companion to Episode 50 of the Bariatric Nutrition Coach Podcast. Listen to the full episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
I've been putting this episode off for a while because vitamins are not the sexy stuff — people want meal plans and recipes. But taking your bariatric vitamins consistently is genuinely one of the most important things you can do after surgery. So let's talk about it.
Why You Need Them
When you have bariatric surgery, your anatomy changes. How you absorb and utilise nutrients changes. Even with a great diet, you need supplementation — because you simply can't eat enough to compensate for the absorption changes that surgery creates. And deficiencies can take years to show up in blood tests, so "my levels look fine right now" isn't a reason to stop taking them.
A good bariatric multivitamin covers the key nutrients — iron, zinc, B12, folate, vitamin D and more — in the proportions needed after surgery. Calcium needs to be taken separately (at least two hours apart from your multi, as calcium interferes with iron absorption). And your regime may differ depending on which type of surgery you've had.
Three Tips for Actually Taking Them
Take your multi with food if nausea has been a barrier. A few bites of food before swallowing the tablet makes a significant difference for most people.
Build them into your eating schedule. Routine is everything. When your meals happen at consistent times, vitamins become part of that routine rather than an afterthought.
Use environmental reminders. Put them next to the kettle. Set a phone reminder. Leave a sticky note somewhere you'll see it. Visual cues really work.
And please — get your blood tests done every year, even when you feel great. Preventive monitoring is self-care.
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