Hair loss after bariatric surgery is very common and very stressful. Everyone wants to achieve great weight loss results and still have thick hair. The hair loss associated with weight loss surgery is called telogen effluvium and has to do with the normal hair growth cycle.

Konjac Noodles is an emerging carbohydrate alternative that is being marketed heavily and can be found at most local supermarkets. The varieties of Konjac products have a front of pack labelling with claims that they contain no-fat, no-carbs and are only 10 calories (42kJ) per serve!

Whether it is in the initial months or years post-surgery, it easy for old habits to creep back in. Old habits can come in many different forms, but one we commonly see is forgetting to read nutrition labels on foods. Over time, label reading can get lost, as it can add extra time to the supermarket shop. When label reading dissipates, often we revert back to buying brands and products that we recognise or used prior to making lifestyle changes, despite the sugar and the fat content. It also allows us to be lured in by cool packaging, change of product names and something with “NEW” displayed on the outside. This leads us to becoming unconscious about what’s really in the food we buy.

Protein bars are targeted towards those who want a convenient source of protein that doesn’t require preparation. They are a nutritional supplement that adds protein and potentially other nutrients to your diet. Whilst protein bars aren’t intrinsically good or bad, how you use them as a part of your overall eating habits can be the difference between them being beneficial or detrimental to your health and energy needs.

Andrea shares with you her favourite protein shake, a Jaffa Frappe, perfect for a hot summer day. This is a low sugar, healthy, creamy breakfast or lunch alternative, and also combines some/all of your vitamins and Calcium in the one drink!

Most of you would have already cut down or stopped the obvious sugary offenders such as fizzy drinks, biscuits, chocolate and cakes (well done!). However, what you might not have considered is all the other sugars that sneak into our body, and gosh, it can add up fast!