Good morning!

I'm just about to start optifast for my surgery and I had a question about Matcha green tea powder.

I know we're supposed to be reducing our caffeine intake, and as such I've completely switched to decaf coffee. I do however, love to add Matcha powder to my current morning shake (I've been eating green shakes with tons of spinach, a little frozen mango, a half a banana, protein powder, and matcha powder for months).

Matcha typically contains about half the caffeine you would get from a cup of black coffee and I love it because I don't get a coffee crash in the afternoon.

Pre-op could I maintain using it?

Post-op if/when could I incorporate it again into my diet? (provided the pouch agrees!!)

Louise

I would stay away from any caffeine for a while after surgery. I didn't even try decaf coffee for 3-4 months because it caused irritation to the sensitive pouch.

I would ask my surgeon. Some are OK with caffeine right away, others want you to wait, still others don't allow it at all. Mine had me wait for six months after surgery.

I was told to avoid all coffee including decaf, due to coffee's high acid content. Tea, including black tea, is allowed. At some point I will be cleared for coffee, too. So in my doc's opinion it isn't caffeine that is problematic, but coffee's acid content.

I was able to have decaf in the hospital directly after surgery, believe it or not.

I've been decaf for the better part of 30 years, so this has never been an issue for me. Except to find the GOOD decaf! I'm a coffee-holic!

On a different note. Do you know that they have MATCHA flavored gum?

https://www.luckyvitamin.com/p-24047-xlear-spry-chewing-gum- with-xylitol-green-tea-100-piece-s?site=google_base&Language Code=EN&locale=en-US&utm_source=google&utm_medium=PLA&scid=s cplp73826&sc_intid=73826&utm_campaign=SC_Shopping_Campaign_X lear&branded=no&gclid=Cj0KCQjwlf_MBRDUARIsAD8Gj8CeyDK9cH_BwN 3_v9Webrg1y36szwBXdsQ7Vu30U46s_M_JSO2GaGUaAsZTEALw_wcB&gclsr c=aw.ds

https://matchaoutlet.com/products/bubble-gum-matcha

I don't know anything about matcha. But caffeine is not an issue. It was once believed to be dehydrating, but medical evidence shows clearly it is not.

You really, really need to stop adding mango, bananas and other fruit to your shakes. It will slow your loss, prevent your liver from shrinking, and cause carb cravings. Protein is the only thing you need.

That has been my usual breakfast for months before I even had a referral for wls. I definitely wont be having them during the preop optifast stage and wont be reintroducing them until i am well past surgery and losing mode. My nut gave me the go ahead for that combo (once at that stage) as long as i reduce the amount of mangos and bananas due to sugar content, which is fine by me.

Thanks for your concern! :)

Just confirming the excellent advice given by Grim above.

To your original question: I was only require to limit caffeine for the first 3 months post surgery. I was actually given regular coffee the morning after my WLS. I am 3 years out and drink enough caffeine each day to keep Starbucks as job-secure.

I was given caffeinated coffee on my tray Day 1 after surgery....I was told I could only count 2 caffeinated drinks towards my 64oz liquid total...they didn't want you drinking all coffee but there was no limit on it.

Grim was trying to be helpful and in your post you don't mention that your green smoothie with fruit was pre-starting WLS journey. Many people are given a weight loss diet before they get to the liquid diet phase, where fruit while more easily tolerated since you haven't had surgery isn't going to optimize weight loss. Also you will find as you spend time on here, many nutritionists give bad advice....