Patients undergoing bariatric surgery face many potential nutritional challenges both pre and post-operatively. Nutrition replacement and supplementation is often critical to ensuring these patients reach their weight loss goals while still maintaining nutritional adequacy. This month’s featured practitioner uses her skills, talents, and discerning eye for quality to provide the best nutrition advice and recommendations to her patients.
We got to know Shelby Burns, MS, RD, LDN Senior Bariatric Dietitian at Brigham and Women’s Center for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery recently, and were thrilled to hear how she is using Orgain to help her patients find success both pre and post-op.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about yourself personally and professionally so that our readers will be able to “get to know you”.
A: Born and raised in a small town in Upstate NY, I moved to Boston to complete my dietetic internship and immediately fell in love with the city! I remain a Boston-based Dietitian with a passion for nutrition and fitness. Growing up playing 3 different sports, I developed a passion for fitness at a young age and realized quickly how important good, nutritious food is to fueling my workouts and optimizing my athletic performance. Consequently, I decided to combine my two passions! I now provide both nutritional counseling as well as personal training to a variety of individuals. I’ve held many roles in the field of dietetics, but over the last year I have come to focus on the nutritional management of the bariatric patient. I currently work as a Senior Bariatric Dietitian in an outpatient clinical healthcare setting in Boston, where I am fortunate to work with some of the top surgeons in the world and am surrounded by such talented individuals.
Q: How long have you been a RD? Do you have any additional certifications/specializations/awards/publications you’d like to tell us about?
A: I have been an RD for the last 5 years. In addition to being a RD, I’m also a Certified Personal Trainer and hold a Master’s Degree in Human Nutrition Research and Metabolism.
Q: How did you initially find Orgain, and what specifically prompted you to begin using it/recommending it to your patients?
A: I came across Orgain products while shopping at a local grocery store. I have a variety of food intolerances and was looking for a natural shake that I could enjoy both after workouts and as part of a healthy diet. I found Orgain to be a more natural option that also tastes delicious! Additionally, I have many patients who do not tolerate artificial sweeteners, so I was looking for an alternative shake to recommend that fit our bariatric nutrition guidelines. Orgain protein shakes and bars not only meet our guidelines but our patients love having such a tasty natural product available.
Q: What is your favorite Orgain product and flavor and why?
A: I personally am obsessed with the chocolate grass fed protein shake because it is creamy, delicious, and helps to satisfy my afternoon sweet tooth. It also provides quick nutrition when I’m on the go or after a workout. It’s so convenient!
Q: How are you currently using Orgain in your practice?
A: I recommend Orgain protein shakes to my patients before and after surgery. There is a significant amount of time that our patients can only consume protein shakes, so I find this to be a wonderful option for them. I also recommend Orgain bars to patients as a healthy snack to help stave off cravings and to help them further meet their protein goals.
Q: Please share a personal story about your experience with Orgain and how it has been beneficial to one or more of your patients?
A: What first appealed to me about Orgain products was the clear commitment to certified organic products, free of artificial sweeteners. I had patients that had interest in plant-based or natural protein shakes,but, it wasn’t until I started having patients tell me about their intolerances/reactions to other shakes (getting shaky, having abdominal cramps, and a variety of GI issues) that were resolved with Orgain shakes, that I became a true fan. Since I personally strive to minimize exposure to chemicals and GMOs, Orgain is a great choice for me. My diet certainly isn’t all organic all the time, but I tend to choose organic when I can, and Orgain products help me and my patients pursue a healthy lifestyle.
Low carb, high protein “diets” are often considered controversial, but there is no doubt that modifying macros for certain populations can be beneficial, or in some instances, even necessary. The risk most often associated with this type of dietary modification is that, along with high protein, comes the potential for consuming too many calories from fat.
Orgain offers a variety of options that suit the needs of patients for whom a low carbohydrate, high protein diet plan is appropriate, without the risk of unintentionally consuming too many calories from fat or ingesting low quality fat sources. In addition, Orgain does not use potentially harmful ingredients like artificial sugars, high fructose corn syrup, gluten or genetically modified soy or corn, and the milk protein we use in our grass fed dairy products is always free of or synthetic hormones and antibiotics. Our offerings that suit this nutritional profile include dairy based as well as vegan/plant based options, in both ready-to-drink, bar and powder formats. So, whether you have a vegan patient with diabetes, a busy working parent looking to lose weight, or someone recovering from bariatric surgery, Orgain has something for everyone!
We are pleased to report that an increasing number of practitioners at top health systems in the United States are recommending Orgain to their patients. In addition, a growing number of facilities are offering a variety of our products on formulary so their patients can have the highest quality nutrition products available while they are admitted. If you have interest in learning more about bringing Orgain into your facility or practice, please email us at [email protected] for additional information on pricing and the application process.
Orgain’s presence at the Best Hospitals per U.S News & World Reports:
- 19 of the top 20 hospitals
- 7 of top 10 Children’s Oncology Hospitals
- 39 of top 50 Oncology Hospitals
Visit the US News and World Report Site for More >
Presented by: RDs In Practice: Advancing Practice in Pediatric Nutrition,CHOC Children’s Clinical Nutrition & Lactation Department
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American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and The Obesity Society (TOS) Joint Annual Meeting.