Bariatrics Blog

Every year at Christmas it shows up. It is a popular gift around the holidays that — let’s face it — most of us dread receiving. The dense cake is filled with sugar-soaked fruit that makes for an overly sweet, hard bite. The historic Christmas cake, inherited from the British and wedding cake of both Princess Diana and Kate Middleton, is actually edible for up to 25 years after it’s made. Shockingly, this doesn’t make it more appealing. But love it or hate it, fruitcake never goes away. What’s the story behind this sturdy seasonal dessert? What’s in it? It’s not just...

One of my favorite family traditions is baking homemade cookies with my daughter and putting them out for Santa onChristmas Eve. Of course, we have to sample the cookies to make sure they are yummy and won’t disappoint the big man. Theaverage sugar cookie has about 220 calories for a medium size cookie and if it has frosting, the calories are even higher. And who canstop at just one cookie? So what are some things parents can do with their children to keep the tradition alive, while sharing healthyhabits as well? Use homemade cookies over store boughto Store bought cookies tend...

Nutritious, easy to grow, and with an exceptionally long life span (if stored properly, some can last months), root vegetables are packed with healthy carbs and starches that provide energy. Research on sweet potatoes suggests that this root veggie may contribute to preventing diabetes, obesity, cancer, and other health conditions thanks to their anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and antimicrobial properties. As a bonus, root veggies including sweet potatoes are also gluten-free, making a great dietary alternative for those with celiac disease, or other gluten intolerances. The sweet potato is a high-carbohydrate, low-fat, and fiber-rich food. Many nutritionists value their high beta carotene (a...

Worried about enjoying dinnertime during the upcoming holiday season?Don't fret - be thankful for these bari-friendly Thanksgiving tips this year! Don't go to all the partiesPrioritize the ones you desire to attend the most, and stick to those. If you desire to socialize, go late after the meal, or mingle away from the food table. Go into any food environment on a full stomach; we tend to eat faster and want larger portions when hungry. Prepare healthy snacks in advance. If traveling, have healthy snacks in the car or carry-on luggage. Keep your hands busy Keep something in your hand...

BABY IT’S COLD OUTSIDE! Okay actually it’s kind of perfect now, but it’s about to be rough for the ole’ outdoor activity. So how do we cope with staying in shape while we are confined indoors? Below I have outlined three exercises you can do indoors daily to keep up your strength and stamina this winter: Squat/ Wall Sit – probably one of my all-time favorites the squat works literally ALL the muscles in the body. You want to make sure that you set your hips back from your midline when you sit down! If a full or free squat is...

Pumpkins often bring to mind images of fall bonfires, jack-o’-lanterns, hay rides, and seasonal desserts, not to mention the pumpkin spice hype — but some people miss pumpkin’s potential as a superfood. They’re actually one of the most nutritious fruits out there. Loaded with antioxidants and disease- fighting vitamins, these gourds aren’t just for carving. Pumpkins are a bona fide superfood. One glance at a pumpkin’s bright orange color, and you’ll see the source of its beta-carotene. Your body uses beta-carotene and converts it to vitamin A, which is important for eye health. Vitamin A helps your retina process and...

Obesity (BMI of 30 or greater) is linked with a higher risk of developing 13 different types of cancer. There is evidence to support a strong relationship between weight loss and cancer risk reduction. Obese individuals who have undergone bariatric surgery to aid in weight loss appear to have a lower risk of obesity-related cancers when compared to obese individuals who have not had bariatric surgery Endometrial cancer (cancer of the lining of the uterus): Obese/overweight women are 2 to 4 times as likely to develop endometrial cancer. Extremelyobese women are about 7 times as likely to develop this cancer. The...

Most of us have heard a flight attendant give their spiel about giving yourself oxygen first, before supplying it to your children. The basic premise makes sense: we are not capable of taking care of others if we don’t first take good care of ourselves. So what exactly is self-care? It essentially means paying attention to our own physical and emotional needs and taking positive steps to care for ourselves. The problem is when life gets stressful and we get busy taking care of other people’s needs, we often stop taking care of ourselves. If we start making self-care a daily...

Bananas are one of the world's most appealing fruits. Global banana exports reached almost 18 million tons in 2015, according to the United Nations. About half went to the United States and the European market. Americans eats about 11.4 lbs. of bananas each year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, making it Americans' favorite fresh fruit. Bananas may have been the world's first cultivated fruit. Archaeologists have found evidence of banana cultivation in New Guinea as far back as 8000 B.C. The banana plant is classified as an arborescent (tree-like) perennial herb, and the banana itself is considered a...

There’s a saying that goes a lot like this, ‘show me your friends and I’ll tell you who you are.’ You may wonder what that has to do with alopecia or hair loss? We start by doing some detective work. By taking a look at the surrounding evidence, we can make an educated conclusion about the cause of someone’s hair loss. Oftentimes, we may be experiencing anemia, hormonal imbalances, hyperthyroidism, or other health concerns. All of these have side effects that can lead to hair loss. Getting to the root cause of any type of health challenge is generally the...

September is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) awareness month. PCOS is a hormonal disorder common among women. While the cause of PCOS is still unknown, some of the symptoms include weight gain, especially around the midsection, and infertility. We see many women who use weight loss surgery as a tool to address the symptoms of PCOS, especially if they are wanting to start a family. After weight loss surgery, we talk to our patients about when it is a good time to start a family as part of our ongoing patient education. This is a great example of how we can...