Vitamins and minerals are critical to your health

Our modern diets include many foods that have been genetically altered to provide better taste, fewer calories, reduced fat, and many other “desirable” tradeoffs. Sadly, many of these alterations come at the expense of the nutritional content of the food. This is why it is important that we all take a good daily multivitamin.

This is especially true for our patients on weight loss medications or having bariatric surgery. Weight loss medications can alter the absorption of vitamins and minerals. For those having bariatric surgery, in the years following surgery the volume of food you are able to eat will be reduced. Due to the volume restriction of your stomach as well as the bypassing of any part of your digestive tract, it will be difficult to consume adequate amounts of various nutrients. You will be required to take vitamin and mineral supplements daily — for the rest of your life!

You can purchase these supplements directly on our website through our partners at Bariatric Advantage and Bariatric Fusion. Please feel free to call us with any questions about what supplements are right for you.

If you would like more information about how Anchorage Bariatrics can help you with a customized weight loss solution, or would like to attend a free informational seminar, please call us at 907-644-THIN.

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The Brain Benefits of Exercise

We all know exercise is good for our bodies, but did you know it has an important and impressive impact on our brains, too? According to scientists at the University of British Columbia, aerobic exercise done on a regular basis can increase the size of your hippocampus, the brain area involved in verbal memory and learning. Exercise stimulates your brain to release chemicals that affect the health of brain cells, the growth of new blood vessels in the brain, and even lengthens the lifespan of new brain cells. Several other studies have indicated that the parts of the brain that control thinking and memory are larger in people who exercise regularly and that this may help reduce a person’s risk for dementia or Alzheimers.

Kitchen Swaps

Switch out quinoa for couscous. While couscous is made from processed wheat flour, quinoa is a whole-grain superfood packed with protein and nutrients. Bonus points: They have almost the exact same texture. While it is a seed, not a grain, you cook it like a grain. Quinoa is a complete protein, which means it includes all nine essential amino acids. It’s also a good source of fiber, as well as B vitamins, vitamin E, and potassium. It’s a rich source of iron, phosphorous, magnesium, and zinc. It also stands in deliciously for pasta and white rice.