Making sure you fill your diet with vitamins and minerals is very important after weight-loss surgery. Here is a list of the key vitamins and minerals you will need with some suggested foods that contain them.
Iron
Liver, lean beef, enriched whole grains/breads, dried beans, egg yolks, dark green leafy vegetables, oysters, prune juice and dried fruits.
Deficiency: Anemia
Signs: Pale, fatigue
(This is also true for Vitamin B12 deficiency.)
Calcium
Milk, cheese, enriched breads, salmon, shrimp, sardines with bones. Dark leafy greens (except rhubarb), spinach, chard and beet greens and broccoli.
Deficiency: Osteoporosis (fragile bones)
Signs: Decreased bone density detected by bone density screening exam
Vitamin B12
Foods of animal origin: liver, kidney, fish, poultry meats, egg, milk and milk products.
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)
Whole grains, enriched cereal products, pork, peas, legumes, dairy products, orange juice and asparagus.
Note: Some of these foods may not be appropriate immediately after surgery.
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