Lap Band nutrition tips, from our Lap Band group in Texarkana, serving Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana.

Here it is, from Amy Carmelli, registered dietician Part 2 of her 3 part series on nutrition.
Vitamins, Minerals, and Water
The forgotten nutrient


We all know we need vitamins, minerals, and water to survive, so why is it that we often forget their importance?

Vitamins are essential, organic substances that we need in our diet for normal function, growth, and maintenance of body tissues. Vitamins are essential in our diet and without them our health can decline. Vitamins are divided into two forms – water soluble and fat soluble. Water soluble vitamins are B-vitamins and vitamin C. Water soluble vitamins taken in excess are excreted from the body in urine. Water soluble vitamins are also destroyed during cooking process. To decrease destruction of water soluble vitamins, it is recommend that we steam, stir-fry, or microwave foods that are high in water soluble vitamins. Fat soluble vitamins are Vitamins A, D, E, K are stored in our bodies so we are less likely to be deficient in these vitamins. Fat soluble vitamins provide a variety of functions in our bodies.
Minerals are divided into two groups – major and trace. Minerals come from plant and animal sources. They are vital to one’s health. Minerals we hear about most often are calcium, sodium, and potassium. Calcium, we all know, is essential to bone health. We need between 1000-1200 mg of calcium per day. Good sources of calcium are milk and milk products, canned fish, and fortified orange juice. Sodium is often associated with hypertension (high blood pressure). Sodium is found in numerous foods – table salt, processed foods, chips, condiments, and sauces. We only need 1200-1500 mg of sodium a day. Many of us take in more than 4000 mg of sodium per day. Recommendations to decrease sodium in your diet include limiting processed foods and chips and using alternative low sodium seasoning when cooking. Potassium is another mineral we often here about. Potassium can be found in various foods – potatoes, tomatoes, beans, bananas, orange juice, milk, meat, and whole grains. Potassium must be balanced in our diet – too much or too little can cause life threatening side effects.
With vitamins and mineral both, the key is not too much and not too little of any one thing. For people who have had a lap band, vitamin/mineral supplementation is necessary due to the decrease portion sizes. Check with your doctor/surgeon or your dietitian if you question if you are taking the right vitamin/mineral supplement.

Water is often the forgotten nutrient. Water is one of the most important nutrients we take in. It helps with sodium-potassium pump, temperature regulation, and removal of waste products. We are often surprised by the amount of water we need versus the amount of water we actual drink. Adequate intake of water for most adults is 9 cups per day (1 cup = 8 ounces). Inadequate water/fluid intake leads to dehydration. Even mild dehydration increases fatigue and impairs performance. The key to help insure adequate fluid intake is to drink water throughout the day. You can not wait till the end of the day to drink 6-8 cups of water. Plan to drink 2 cups between each meal and before bedtime. This will insure adequate hydration.
Don’t forget the forgotten nutrient!
Next month – “Putting it all together to make a health diet”.
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Notes from Dr Ron Hekier for our lap band surgery patients:
1)For vitamins, consider the "Vitaband" from Bariatric Advantage that can be found on the Bariatric Advantage Estore. This vitamin was specially formulated for Lap Band patients.

2)For water intake, be wary of the various vitamin waters and sports fluid replacement drinks. They may have many calories and you might have the unintended result of taking in more calories than you planned on. Plain water is the best, and no need to buy bottled water. Tap water is just as good, and in fact some bottled waters that you buy in a store are simply bottled tap water!