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Monday, March 17, 2014

Check Out This Delicious St. Paddy's Day Shake Recipe From Bari Life!




A small size Shamrock Shake from McDonald's has 400 calories and 60 grams of sugar. If you’ve ever been tempted to grab one of these festive green shakes, look no further! This version is so thick and creamy that you can eat it with a spoon! The best part is, it’s packed with protein and is extremely low in sugar and calories. It tastes downright AMAZING! Get your St. Paddy's Day "fix" with this lean, green protein shake!

 St. Paddy's Day Shake Recipe
Ingredients:
  • 1 packet Bari Life Vanilla pudding/shake mix (prepared)
  • 1/4 cup vanilla or plain protein powder (1 scoop-100 calories)
  • 1/8 tsp  mint extract (or to taste)
  • 2-3 packets of Stevia or sweetener of choice (or to taste)
  • 5-10 ice cubes (more or less depending on how thick you like it)
  • 4 oz. water (again, alter according to desired thickness of shake)
  • 2-3 drops green food coloring OR a handful of spinach to make it green!
  • 1-2 tbsp Sugar Free Instant Pistachio Pudding Mix (Jell-O brand)
  • Pinch Guar or xanthan gum

Directions:
1. ONE SIMPLE STEP!  Put all the base ingredients in the blender, and blend away until desired consistency! Swirl in one drop of green food coloring just before serving  *Top with fat free Reddi Wip if desired! *

Nutritional Information:
1 Serving


To your health!
The Bari Life Team
Improving the health and wellness of bariatric patients around the world by providing the most complete bariatric vitamin formulas that are highly effective and clinically proven.
Order Online Here www.barilife.com


Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Be aware of the importance of Thiamine/B-1 Vitamin!

The Importance of Thiamine
Many bariatric surgeons are prescribing 100mg of vitamin B-1 (also called thiamine) daily for the first four weeks after bariatric surgery to prevent a deficiency, which is often caused by nausea vomiting.

Dr. Stephen Boyce shares his expertise and findings from his bariatric practice, The New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery, “My clinical experience tells me that patients who are deficient in thiamine are the patients who experience the worst nausea and vomiting after surgery.  In my practice, as a precautionary measure, I prescribe an additional supplement of 100mg of thiamine daily for one month after surgery to all of my patients.”

Vitamin B-1 is an essential nutrient and is one of the B complex vitamins that is water soluble.   Thiamine helps to convert carbohydrates into glucose, which is used to produce energy.  It helps to metabolize protein and fats as well as support the nervous system and promote good brain health. It is sometimes referred to as an “anti-stress” vitamin because it is thought to strengthen the immune system and improve the body’s ability to handle stressful conditions.
 
Dietary sources include, beef, brewer’s yeast, nuts, milk, legumes, pork, rice, seeds oranges, wheat and whole grain cereals.

Dr. Boyce explains the importance of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery thiamine recommendations and why patients sometimes need more thiamine than the recommendations: "The ASMBS recommends 3mg daily for weight loss surgery patients.  What patients must understand is that these recommendations are to prevent deficiencies and may not be enough if the patient is already deficient. There are no reported adverse effects from consuming excess thiamine from food and supplements.  Most of my colleagues agree that adding a B-1 supplement as a standard protocol after surgery is in the best interest of the patient.  Once the patient’s thiamine levels are normal then we recommend at least 3mg daily for maintenance.”

Very little B-1 is stored in the body and deficiencies can develop quickly in the bariatric patient.   Thiamine deficiency is quite common in gastric bypass patients due to impaired absorption and decreased acidification of food. Symptoms of deficiency include fatigue, irritability, depression and abdominal discomfort.  It can cause problems with digesting carbohydrates which allows a substance called pyruvic acid to build up in the blood causing a loss in mental alertness, difficulty in breathing and even heart damage. (A disease called Beriberi).

Bari Life Bariatric Supplements offers a 30 count (one month supply), 100mg tablet of B-1.  Additionally, all of the Bari Life multivitamin formulas contain 6mg of B-1 for daily maintenance.


About Dr. Stephen G. Boyce:
Dr. Stephen Boyce obtained his Bachelor of Science and Masters of Science from Texas A&M University, College Station, before beginning medical school in Dallas, Texas at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School where he received his medical degree. Surgical Residency was performed at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas where he completed his general surgery training and was introduced to weight loss surgery under the tutelage of Dr. Otto Wilbanks, a pioneering father of weight loss surgical procedures.

With more than 24 years of experience performing bariatric surgeries, Dr. Boyce has completed over 4,000 weight loss surgical procedures, has special training in advanced laparoscopic surgery and has also completed a Masters Certification in Bariatric Surgery. He started his own practice the New Life Center forBariatric Surgery in Knoxville, Tennessee in 2002, which shortly after became one of the Nation's first Centers of Excellence (7th in the Nation) in 2005.

He is the Medical Director of the Tennova Center for Surgical Weight Loss in Knoxville, TN.  His special interest in bariatric nutrition led him to develop Bari Life Bariatric Supplements, specializing in custom multivitamin formulas for the weight loss surgery patient.  Additionally, he is an active educator for Ethicon-Endo Surgery and he was the first physician to be awarded by the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC), "Outstanding Membership Recruitment by a Physician Award.”