26Mar

Gastric Bypass

Gastric Bypass is a major surgery & requires a lot to recover completely.

The start towards the path of recovery would be tough to go through.

It will be super uncomfortable & you will be hungry for the most of the time.

Clear liquid diet won’t make you feel any better nor would it help with the hunger pangs. But that is all you can have in the start.

Start walking as much as you can after the surgery.

In the beginning take it slow but don’t sit idle & wait for the pain to ebb away.

Follow the post operation diet plan completely without a dark spot.

Join a support group to find a companion going through the same condition.

Stay Positive

Stay away from cheating methods.

Ask for help if need be to keep depression at bay.

Plan your meal time so that snacking could be avoided.

Planning To Go Through Gastric Bypass ?

Visit Us

INTERNATIONAL PATIENT FACILITATORS

 

20Mar

Post Bariatric Surgery Smoothies !

Pre and Post bariatric surgery, you will be required to drink protein shakes and they will make up a big part of your nutritional regimen for the first few months.  Please take a moment to pack your shakes with ingredients that will give you the biggest nutritional bang for your buck.  There are so many opportunities to feed your body post surgery in a very nutritious way.  This also ensures quicker healing and excellent weight loss results.   Instead of buying those pre-made shakes, grab your blender and take it up a notch.  You can make some delicious, healthy, smoothies to guarantee you are giving your body what it requires.  As far as equipment goes, all you need is your magic bullet or blender.

Rules to Follow:  Add an ingredient from each of the categories below to invent your delicious and nutritious smoothies.  Blend until smooth.  Take your time and enjoy your smoothie one sip at a time.  If you cannot drink it in one sitting, then cover it and place it in the fridge to come back to in a few hours.  Consume within 24 hours please.  Get creative !

Main Ingredient :  Protein Powder !  Add one serving of high quality protein powder to the blender.  We recommend using plant proteins for better digestion post surgery.  Regular protein powders contain dairy (whey protein) and can cause gas and bloating.  Here is an excellent high quality powder for bariatric patients:  Plant Protein

Fruit !  Berries are my favorite as they are packed with nutrients, low sugar and high fiber.  Add a handful of fresh or frozen berries to your smoothie.  Stay away from canned fruits that have added sugars.

Milks:  Today we have so many options … I suggest mixing your smoothie with no sugar added almond milk, coconut milk, cashew milk or any one of your favorites.  Don’t use “low fat” milk please because when the fat is removed, there are sugars and chemicals added to make it taste better. 

Spice it up:  Now is the time to get creative !  Spice is not only fun but it’s also adds nutritional benefits.  Play with different flavors such as ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla or allspice. 

Sweeten up:  use Stevia or monk fruit to add some additional sweetness to your smoothie.

Added Fiber !  post surgery some clients experience constipation.  To help keep things “moving along” – add a teaspoon of chia seed or ground flax seed to your smoothie. 

Here are some yummy smoothie recipes to try.  There are so many options to choose from.  Get creative and have fun with your blender !

Yummy Banana and Peanut Butter Smoothie
  • one scoop of protein powder
  • one cup of chocolate soy milk
  • 1/2 a banana
  • one tablespoon of natural peanut butter
  • ice cubes

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Super Berry Smoothie
  • one scoop of protein powder
  • 1/2 a cup of frozen berries
  • 1/2 a cup of greek yogurt
  • one cup of almond milk
  • 1/8 teaspoon of nutmeg
  • ice cubes

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Super Peachy Smoothie
  • one scoop of protein powder
  • 1/2 cup of frozen peaches
  • 1/2 cup greek yogurt
  • 1 cup cashew or coconut milk
  • 1 teaspoon ground flaxseed

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About the Author: Sheri Burke is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist and Bariatric Surgery Coordinator at International Patient Facilitators in Tijuana and Cancun, Mexico. She has worked with bariatric surgery patients for 10 years and especially enjoys providing nutritional guidance to pre and post bariatric clients.  In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two teens and cooking up a nutritional storm in the kitchen.

For high quality specialized plant protein for bariatric patients Bariatric Expert Protein Powders

Time for a “bariatric expert” multivitamin ?  Here is a perfect way for bariatric patients to get it now on Amazon:  Bariatric Expert MultiVitamins.

Eat Like a Bariatric Expert with our Nutrition Plans.

Feel free to share your victories and struggles in our Facebook Group. I would love to connect with you.

Stay motivated with Bariatric Wristbands – post your results online !

13Mar

It’s so confusing when we hear that we need to eat our veggies and then in the same sentence that we need to watch our carb intake – aren’t vegetables considered carbohydrates ?  So what do we do ?  eat them or not ?  I am going to break it down so that you can have your cake (veg) and eat it too !

Below is an easy to go to list which tells you which veggies are the best to eat when watching your carbohydrate intake.  Get ready for a few surprises though !  Did you know that your leeks are high in carbohydrates or that a great low carb option is to snack on radishes ?

So if it’s so confusing and some vegetables are high in carbs while others are not – why not just eliminate all vegetables from our diets ?  

Please don’t do this – those vegetables that you avoid give you tons of fiber and vitamins and minerals that keep our body happy and healthy.  Instead of just giving up veg, stick to the ones that are lower in carbohydrates while you are still in the active weight loss phase post bariatric surgery.  

What do I count ?  Net Carbs or Total Carbs ?

Try not to focus on total carbs and change your focus to the “net carbs” in your vegetables.  Fiber is so healthy and it keeps us “moving” and it also keeps our guts healthy so don’t exclude it in your diet.  Try to get more of it.  A lot of that fiber is not going to be digested and so it doesn’t turn into “glucose” or carbohydrates – it passes through your gut and feeds the micro-biome keeping your gut healthy.  Eat low carb veggies and keep your gut happy and healthy. 

What’s the “best of the best” when talking about low carbohydrate vegetables ?  Which ones can you turn to when looking for high micronutrients and low in carbs ?  I like to suggest that you turn to the following vegetables:

Broccoli – it’s a super versatile low carb veg which is packed with vitamins C and K and it only contains 4g net carbs per one full cup.

Asparagus – eat asparagus because it can be wrapped in bacon lol and it comes in at 4g of net carbs per cup – plus you will be getting plenty of Vitamin A, C and K.

Mushrooms – they are super low carb at 1g net carbs per cut of white mushrooms.  They have been found to contain amazing anti-inflammatory properties.  Add mushrooms to boring dishes to add texture and flavour.

Zucchini – there are different types of zucchini and some are higher in carb count than others but regular green zucchini has approximately 3 grams of net carbs per cup.  Zucchini will give you plenty of vitamin C.

Spinach – when watching carb count, spinach is a favourite for most people because it only has 3 grams of net carbs per each cooked cup.  Spinach can be used cooked or in salads or with eggs.  It’s extremely versatile and you can even add some healthy fats to make it creamy as a side dish.

Avocado – so avocados are actually considered a fruit but I am adding them here as they are eaten more like a veg.  Avocado is super high in healthy fats and they are also low in net carbs as they are very high in fiber.  They come in at 3g of net carbs.  They are also super high in vitamin C.  Add a bit of avocado to your meals to increase satiety and healthy fats.

Cauliflower – this is a super versatile vegetable which is low in carbs (2g net carbs per cup).  You can use this vegetable as a side dish or a main course.  You can switch regular potatoes for cauliflower mash and you can even make pizza crust out of this veg.  

Bell Peppers – the green bell pepper adds great flavour to cooked dishes.  The green ones are lower in carbs over the red/ yellow ones but even then the coloured peppers only contain 6g of net carbs per one cup chopped up.  Get your vitamin A and add tons of flavours to your salads and wraps.

Green Beans – green beans are a super addition as a side dish.  One cup of green beans has 6g of net carbs and they add plenty of texture to cooked and raw dishes.

 

Low Carbohydrate List of Vegetables / per 100 grams  / Net Carbs

  • Broccoli Raab 0.15g
  • Bok Choi 1.18g
  • Celery 1.37g
  • Spinach 1.43g
  • Asparagus 1.78g
  • Radish 1.80g
  • Avocado 1.84g
  • Arugula 2.05g
  • Zucchini 2.11g
  • Mushrooms 2.26g
  • Tomato 2.69g
  • Olives 2.80g
  • Eggplant 2.88g
  • Bell Pepper 2.90g
  • Cauliflower 2.97g
  • Cabbage 3.00g
  • Cucumber 3.13g
  • Jalapeno Pepper 3.70g
  • Broccoli 4.04g
  • Bean Sprouts 4.14g
  • Fennel 4.20g
  • Okra 4.25g
  • Green beans 4.27g
  • Turnips 4.63g
  • Snow Peas 4.95g
  • Brussels Sprouts 5.15g
  • Carrots 6.78g
  • Onion 7.64g
  • Leek 12.3g
  • Ginger 15.7g

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About the Author: Sheri Burke is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist and Bariatric Coordinator at International Patient Facilitators in Tijuana and Cancun, Mexico. She has worked with bariatric surgery patients for 10 years and especially enjoys providing nutritional guidance to pre and post bariatric patients.  In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two teens and cooking up a nutritional storm in the kitchen.

For high quality specialized plant protein for bariatric patients Bariatric Expert Protein Powders

Time for a “bariatric expert” multivitamin ?  Here is a perfect way for bariatric patients to get it now on Amazon:  Bariatric Expert MultiVitamins.

Eat Like a Bariatric Expert with our Nutrition Plans.

Feel free to share your victories and struggles in our Facebook Group. I would love to connect with you.

Stay motivated with Bariatric Wristbands – post your results online !

12Mar

Dentistry has come a long way since its humble and sometimes terrifying beginnings. Today, there’s a host of dental procedures which address various ailments and maladies of the gums, teeth and mouth. This is also a cause for confusion as many do not know how to differentiate between what is out there. Not knowing the difference means not being able to figure out what you need!

Making it Simple

We’re going to address this unfamiliarity and walk you through three very common and popular dental procedures. We’re going to get into what they mean as well as what they entail and when they might be a good idea to get.

Here they are!

Bridges

The prime purpose of a dental bridge is to take the place of a missing tooth or teeth. The name bridge comes from the fact that the false teeth or ‘bridge’, is supported by real teeth on either side of it. In other words, it literally bridges the gap between them!

How Do They Work?

Firstly, dental bridges are synthetically made and require one solid tooth on either side in order to hold them in place. They serve to allow the wearer more flexibility when it comes to eating and improve one’s look aesthetically (fixes your smile). They also prevent the shifting and displacement of the remaining teeth that often happens when teeth are missing. Last but not least, it protects the teeth that remain from strain and decay!

When Do I Get One?

If all your teeth are perfect but one or two, dental bridges would be the ideal solution.

Crowns 

Crowns only fit over a single tooth. Like bridges, crowns are also made of a variety of materials including ceramic, stainless steel and gold to name a few. A crown helps to cover and protect a tooth that has suffered erosion or damage. It also returns tooth functionality.

How do they work?

Crowns work by protecting the damaged part of the tooth and preventing further damage. They help with mastication (chewing) as damaged teeth tend to sting when pressure is applied to them. Dental cement is used to hold crowns in place for extended periods of time.

When do I get one?

Crowns are ideal if you have a mildly damaged tooth that you need to have fixed.

Implants

This probably the most reliable (yet also painful) tooth replacement option. Implants are synthetically modeled teeth that are fit right into the jawbone in replacement of those that are missing.

How do they work?

Implants do just that. They are implanted to replace your teeth. The bottom part of the implant is often metal and fused with the jaw bone below. The upper part or tooth is what people see. These are made as the same synthetic materials as bridges and crowns. Unlike dentures however, implants do not slip out, nor do they need to be removed while eating.

When do I get them?

Implants are a great idea if you’re missing all or most of your teeth. These are also often a good way to go if your teeth are too damaged to support a crown or bridge.

Coverage and Cost

Though personally we all treasure our smiles and ability to eat, many insurance companies and employer-provided medical covers do not consider dental care as essential. Further, dental care in the US can be painfully expensive!

Alternatives? 

There is always the option of seeking quality dental care abroad. Dental care in Mexico is affordable and as reliable as anywhere in the U.S. A number other treatments such as cosmetics, fertility and bariatric surgery in Mexico are also quite popular among those visiting for health care purposes.

If you’re interesting in seeking dental or any other medical care in Mexico, give us a shout and let us help you put it together!

10Mar

What is bariatric surgery or gastric bypass? To some, these terms might be completely alien; to others, not so much. A report from 2013 claims that bariatric surgery is one of the most effective forms of weight loss treatment used  to counter morbid obesity. That being said, there are a number of different surgical procedures which are aimed at weight loss.

Over the course of this blog we’re going to get into the details of some of these procedures. This includes their effectiveness as well as a little on how they are performed.

5 Different Types of Procedures

There are a number of different procedures used to address weight loss. Some of these as you will soon find are more popular than others. Without further delay, here they are!

Gastric Sleeve

Also known as sleeve gastrectomy, this procedure involves the reduction of stomach size. This is done by removing a part of the stomach. The name sleeve is given as that is the structure the stomach takes post surgery.

This surgery is meant to reduce hunger by making the patient feel full quicker. It is extremely popular due to its effectiveness as well as due to the fact that it is one of the quicker procedures available.

LAP-BAND

This involves wrapping and compartmentalizing the stomach with the help of a band. The bands in question come from various companies. This procedure reduces the size of the stomach (through band compartmentalization) hence makes patients feel fuller quicker.

Though this surgery too is effective, there are certain problems with it such as band erosion.

Gastric Bypass

This form of surgery works both by reducing stomach size as well as by rearranging the intestines in a way that allows for quicker excretion of unabsorbed food. In most cases, this food would be converted to fat cells hence the surgery is also quite effective in the area of weight loss.

This surgery is also known to allow for a weight loss of up to 60% within the span of twelve months.

Duodenal Switch

This technique involves a number of steps. These include downsizing ones stomach surgically, intestinal redirecting and gall bladder removal.

The results are notable health improvements by way of reduced hunger, non-absorbtion of excess minerals and immense weight loss.

Gastric Balloon

Believe it or not, this procedure involves placing between one and three balloons in the stomach in order to reduce space and make it feel full sooner. These are not your average balloons but special medical tools made of silicone.

This procedure is hugely beneficial for weight loss and other ailments but the balloons require removal on a six month basis.

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What’s the Best?

We can’t really say what the best of these is. What we can say is MINI BYPASS, gastric bypass and sleeve surgery is definitely among the most sought out!

Conclusion

Though effective, if done in the U.S., some of these procedures can be quite a burden on ones finances. A number of people have proceeded to seek bariatric surgery in Mexico and other places due to the availability of affordable high quality healthcare. If you’re someone who is currently looking for bariatric treatment options abroad, pick your desired treatment and give us a shout!

9Mar

Infertility plagues a large number of people across the world. Furthermore, with our lifestyles being stressful, people tend to hold up on having children until they feel set and stable. That being said, the desire to have children is a real one and an inability to achieve the same truly devastating.

Many people think twice before seeking fertility treatment. The reason for this could be a combination of not really knowing what is out there as well as not being able to afford it!

Costs and Coverage

Unfortunately, fertility is not seen as something important enough for most insurance plans to take up under their umbrella of covered procedures. Furthermore, fertility treatment, especially in the U.S. is extremely expensive to say the least.

Variety of Treatments

There are a large number of fertility treatments available today. These include; fertility drugs, donor eggs, reproductive surgery, gamete transfer and zygote transfer to name a few.

We however, will focus on three well established forms of treatment and go over what they are about.

Fertility Drugs

Fertility drugs act by facilitating the production and release of certain hormones crucial to fertility. The three ways these hormones help is by enhancing the formation of eggs, triggering ovulation and making the uterus better prepared for implantation.

These are ideal for women with irregular ovulation or those whose partners might have weak sperms. On a flip side this treatment is ineffective in case of blockages in the fallopian tubes.

These drug based fertility treatment have a success rate of about 50%. That being said, fertility drugs can cause numerous unpleasant side effects which are both physical and emotional.

Reproductive Surgery

This is an approach taken when there are physical anomalies that hamper or prevent fertilization. One example is fallopian tube blockages. Reproductive surgery performed relies greatly on the type of problem present. This is because surgical procedures need to be altered accordingly.

There is no stable measure of the success rates of reproductive surgery. This is because success varies depending on the intensity of the condition suffered by the patient.

Another factor to bear in mind here is that this procedure is all out surgical. It could require extended in patient stays and recovery periods. In extreme cases, it can also be quite risky.

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

IVF is a procedure that involves a number of steps. These include extraction of the patient’s eggs. This is followed by Fertilization of said eggs with partner or donor sperm (depending on what you are going for). Finally, one of the numerous successfully fertilized eggs is implanted directly into the uterus.

This treatment addresses both those with damaged internal organs that make fertilization difficult and problems associated with weak sperms. It is also highly useful in older women looking to bear children.

This form of fertility treatment has higher success rates. The only con, at least in the U.S. is that it is extremely expensive.

Conclusion

Out of all the fertility treatments out there, IVF is considered to be the best, most effective and least problematic or risky. Unfortunately, the fact that it is costly forces many hopeful or aspiring parents to look into other less expensive forms of treatment.

That being said, medical tourism is a real thing and Mexico is very much a hub for medical tourism! There are a number of fertility cosmetic and bariatric treatment options in Mexico for those seeking inexpensive yet reliable and quality health care. If you feel you want to look into fertility treatment options in Mexico, we’ve got all the detailed information you require and a service that guarantees to get you the treatment you desire. Just look into your options and get to it!