Hello I’m getting close to having my surgery just waiting on insurance clearance. I’m a daily matcha drinker and I understand that I’ll have to stop caffeine after surgery (coffee and high volume teas) I was wondering if any one could suggest a brand of match powder that is in the lower end of caffeine that I could introduce myself to at a low low serving size a month or so after my surgery. I understand that I may not even be able to tolerate an ounce of the drink but I want to at lest try before I say no never happening again. I also sweeten my teas with stevia so the sugar content is on the low end.

Can’t help with the decaf matcha (find matcha can be grainy and dusty & the caffeine knocks me) but what about trying green tea? It’s the same just milder in flavour and because it’s not as concentrated it has less caffeine (about 1/4 of coffee & I think about 1/3 of matcha). I’ve been drinking green tea for 20+ years. My surgeon allowed herbal or green tea after surgery thank goodness. I think I started drinking it again a few days after. I found the warmth more soothing & easier to sip than water. If it got too cool, I just reheated it in a microwave but some people swear by those little hot plates to keep your mug warm. Check with your team if you can try green tea as an alternative to your matcha.

I have a caffeine limit it’s about as much caffeine in hot chocolate, I am allowed hot chocolate which is wonderful with winter coming up. I find green tea off putting in taste but I drink matcha for its benefits.

Edited October 9, 20241 yr by Elizabeth Miller

I know programmes differ hugely but my surgeon placed absolutely no restrictions on caffeine and I was hugely grateful.

I have no idea whether there is good evidence that caffeine consumption affects weight loss after bariatric surgery but I suspect very much not.

@GreenTealael do you have any evidence to share?

I am a coffee, not a matcha drinker, but I know how much I valued those coffees in the weeks and months after my surgery. Might be worth drilling down into the actual evidence based practice with your team if matcha means as much to you!

Edited October 11, 20241 yr by Spinoza

4 hours ago, Spinoza said:

I know programmes differ hugely but my surgeon placed absolutely no restrictions on caffeine and I was hugely grateful.

I have no idea whether there is good evidence that caffeine consumption affects weight loss after bariatric surgery but I suspect very much not.

@GreenTealael do you have any evidence to share?

I am a coffee, not a matcha drinker, but I know how much I valued those coffees in the weeks and months after my surgery. Might be worth drilling down into the actual evidence based practice with your team if matcha means as much to you!

There are so many different studies on the effects of caffeine on weight loss outcomes, but I cannot find anything specific to our population. Maybe someone else has a resource to share.

As for the restrictions, usually the warning is that caffeine is a diuretic and appetite suppressant. That can seriously impact hydration early on. But every program is different, mine didn’t particularly care if you had coffee/tea but you couldn’t count it towards hydration.

Here’s an interesting (mouse) study on matcha and it’s effects on obesity (through the liver gut axis)

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2022.931060/full

Anecdotally I’ve never stopped consuming tea (including matcha) but I was never asked to, thank goodness ?

Edited October 11, 20241 yr by GreenTealael

I thought the no caffeine had a lot to do with how caffeine stimulates stomach acid. (It why you should avoid caffeine if you have reflux.) Post surgery, our bodies are still producing the same amount of acid we used to need in our larger tummies (& why many are prescribed PPIs to counteract this). So we’re told to avoid caffeine so we won’t stimulate our stomach acid more at least until our body adjusts to our new digestive needs.

7 minutes ago, Arabesque said:

I thought the no caffeine had a lot to do with how caffeine stimulates stomach acid. (It why you should avoid caffeine if you have reflux.) Post surgery, our bodies are still producing the same amount of acid we used to need in our larger tummies (& why many are prescribed PPIs to counteract this). So we’re told to avoid caffeine so we won’t stimulate our stomach acid more at least until our body adjusts to our new digestive needs.

^^^ This too!

I am allowed to caffeine as well. The surgeon does suggest to limit it but we were allowed coffee the next day in hospital if we liked it black I would ask why they don’t want you to have it. If it’s because it tends to be dehydrating but you’re having no issue with fluids, for instance, maybe they will be okay with your having it. Sometimes the blanket rules don’t apply to everyone.

Edited October 12, 20241 yr by ShoppGirl

I drink matcha every day and I also have mushroom coffee. It comes out to about 60mg of caffeine total per day. Less than a regular cup of coffee but juuuuust enough to give me a little bit of "get up and go". I stayed away from all caffeine for about 6 months, then had matcha twice per week for 2 months, then added the mushroom coffee twice per week 2 months after adding the matcha. Now I drink them daily and it's all good.

My nutritionist told me that Premier shakes has a cafe latte flavor that has caffeine in it.

1 hour ago, RuizAyres said:

My nutritionist told me that Premier shakes has a cafe latte flavor that has caffeine in it.

They do and it is very tasty. I actually switched to making my own iced coffee with decaf post surgery and I use their caramel shake mixed with coffee but I had the cafe latte shakes every morning for a couple of years. If you like iced coffee chances are you will love them. If you get the powder make sure you get the one that has caffeine though. They make one that doesn’t. And it tastes different. It’s not as good to me. I always just did the premade ones but I guess if traveling the powder would be lighter.

Edited October 13, 20241 yr by ShoppGirl

On 10/10/2024 at 9:49 PM, Arabesque said:

I thought the no caffeine had a lot to do with how caffeine stimulates stomach acid. (It why you should avoid caffeine if you have reflux.) Post surgery, our bodies are still producing the same amount of acid we used to need in our larger tummies (& why many are prescribed PPIs to counteract this). So we’re told to avoid caffeine so we won’t stimulate our stomach acid more at least until our body adjusts to our new digestive needs.

My surgeon said no to caffeine. Two reasons were Gerd and Barretts. It would increase the stomach acid. I love coffee and drank coffee until the day before surgery. Almost 2 weeks post-up and I have not had any coffee. It was a bit difficult, but I don't seem too bad. I had started incorporating more water for months before my surgery and changed my coffee habit by mostly only drinking at work. That seems to help.