Taste Changes After Surgery

Many patients may experience changes in their sense of smell or taste following weight loss surgery. They often report a heightened sensitivity to sweet, salty, sour or bitter tastes. The exact cause of this common phenomenon has not been definitively identified, but research suggests that hormonal changes in the gut impact the nervous system, resulting in mixed messages between the brain and the gastrointestinal tract. One study indicated that as high as 97% of patients experience changes in either taste, smell or tolerance of certain foods following surgery. And some people face a combination of all of these changes! This can be frustrating, cause anxiety, or possibly even result in deficiencies if the patients are not able to meet their nutrition needs. We know you want to help your patients through this challenging time, and so do we! How UNJURY® Can Help! If your patients are experiencing an aversion to sweet flavors, they can:

• Try adding Chocolate or Vanilla UNJURY to unsweetened items, such as almond milk, decaf coffee, or plain, non-fat Greek yogurt.
• Or if they prefer to avoid sweet flavors altogether, UNJURY Chicken Soup and Unflavored Protein are great alternatives!

  If patients experience a heightened sense of smell:

• Encourage them to try extracts, herbs, and spices to enhance food choices with favorable aromas.
• Suggest adding orange, raspberry, or peppermint extract to their UNJURY shakes.
• A sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg can also improve smells.

  Patients may also want to consider the temperature of what they are consuming:

• If they tolerate cold food and drinks better, they can blend UNJURY with ice.
• If warm foods tend to be more agreeable, they can mix UNJURY into warm liquids up to 140 degrees.
• There are also a variety of UNJURY recipes that can be served at room temperature.

  For a collection of recipes to share with your patients, please visit UNJURY Recipes. If you have questions or would like more usage tips email RD@UNJURY.com.