Meals that Heal: Optimizing Nutrition after Surgery
You’ve made it! The long awaited surgery is over. So what is the next step? After going through surgery, it’s important to focus on eating nutritious meals in order to get your body to fully recover from the procedure. Preparing the right foods after surgery can lower the risk of infection and put you on a faster route to recovery. Whether your body needs to repair tissue, replace fluids, rebuild bones, or simply recover, eating foods that are highly nutritious can significantly increase strength and boost energy. Not only can boost your health, it can optimize your body to achieve overall better health.
Chew on Fiber
Constipation is a normal discomfort after surgery. Taking pain medicine increases the likelihood of constipation. In order to prevent it, fiber should be incorporated in most of your meals. Whole grains are a great source of fiber, which will cause your body to move your bowels and minimize constipation. There are a wide range of delicious foods that contain fiber: oats, almonds, beans, corn, whole-grains, brown rice, and fresh fruits and vegetables.
Eat Protein
Protein is one of the most essential components to a person’s diet for its critical health benefits. Your body needs protein to make enzymes, hormones, build bones, muscles, skin, blood, and cartilage. Eating meat that is high in protein can help repair loss of muscle tissue, damaged and removed skin as a result of the surgery. High protein foods contain essential amino acids that aid wound healing and most importantly, support your immune system. Some of the foods that contain high protein are eggs, low-fat cheese, yogurt, chicken, soy-based foods. Some additional foods you can snack on are nuts, granola bars, and low-fat peanut butter crackers.
Have Some Carbohydrates
Post-surgery life can be difficult, you may be spending most of your time in bed as a result of pain and fatigue. In that case, it would be beneficial to be eating foods that contain the good types of carbohydrates which can boost your energy level. Eating carbohydrates should come naturally since they are in various types of foods, such as pasta, rice, whole-grains, and even fruits and vegetables.
Take in Vitamins and Minerals
It’s important to note that some of the most essential nutrients in your post-surgery diet are vitamins and minerals because they can aid your body in immensely advantageous ways. Vitamin C can help minimize the chance of over sensitizing your nerves, can help repair tendons, ligaments, surgical wounds. Some of the foods that are high in Vitamin C are oranges, strawberries, baked potatoes, broccoli, bell peppers, dried beans.
Vitamin D is known for promoting bone healing, as well as making your bones stronger and healthier. Vitamin D is found in dairy products-milk, yogurt, and cheese. It can also be found in egg yolk, mushrooms, cod-liver oil, and tofu. Zinc is helpful in the healing process and important for wound healing and boosting energy for your post-surgery life.
Zinc is found in seafood, meat, fish, poultry, whole-grain cereals, and dairy foods. Vitamin A is important for healthy cell growth and to fight any infections and heal efficiently. You can find contains Vitamin A in sweet potatoes, carrots, leafy greens, apricots, and fish.
Nibble on More Calories
Since your body is recovering from surgery, it’s crucial you consume more than enough calories. Since your body will most likely be drained, weak, and tired, it will take more effort to do your normal activities and your body will be burning extra calories.
Additional Tip: Don’t hesitate to munch on snacks throughout the day and drink extra fluids! Staying hydrated is one of the best things you can do for your body since your body is made up of 70% water.
Websites:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/107445-foods-after-surgery/
http://www.thedailymeal.com/10-foods-will-help-you-heal-after-surgery/32714
http://surgery.about.com/od/aftersurgery/ss/EatAfterSurgery.htm#step2