The Road to Recovery and Optimum Nutrition

Watching what you eat should always be a priority when it comes to your health. However, when you are preparing for surgery, or recovering from it, this is something that you should give serious consideration to.

Nutrition for Recovery

It is likely that before you undergo any type of surgery your healthcare professional will advise you as to the best foods to include and which ones would be best off avoided at this time. However, you still have the power to go the extra mile when it comes to your nutrition by taking matters into your own hands.

Doing so can often help you in your recovery process as your body is better equipped to deal with the impact of the procedure in question. There is an abundance of information on the internet can help you to eat better and improve your health. In the following article I am going to simplify some of this advice so that you can easily take control of your health!

Vitamins and Minerals

Increasing the amount of vitamins and minerals that you consume is great for the healing process and these things can be obtained through a variety of fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, legumes and proteins. Incorporating these things into your diet, both pre and post surgery, is the best way to experience the maximum effect of doing so.

Making Positive Changes

If you already eat a fairly healthy diet then you will be in a good position to make further positive improvements. If your existing diet is currently not so healthy then this could be exactly the push you need to make a change!

Although there is a lot of conflicting advice when it comes to health and nutrition, there are certain foods that we are all aware fall into the good and bad categories. For example, eating processed, packaged foods that are full of sugar and other additives are never going to be of benefit to your health. Whereas consistently consuming a wide range of plant-based foods is a habit that will help you to stay healthier as you age.

Healthy Choices

So what is it exactly about different types of foods that can help you on the road to recovery and which foods should you choose? The simple answer to that question is that you will need an ample supply of calories and nutrients after your surgery in order to heal at an optimum level. The chance of infection post-surgery varies depending on the surgery and the environment in which you recover.

However, eating foods that help to prevent infection has been known to help. The amino acids that we consume through high protein foods greatly contribute to the healing process. In my opinion, the best sources of protein are fish, eggs, nuts, lentils and a selection of soy based products. You may also find it beneficial to opt for a protein supplement if you are concerned about getting it into your body through natural dietary sources.

 

Keeping your strength up is also important and some people often neglect themselves in this way if they are not feeling too well before or after surgery. By consuming a range of healthy carbohydrates you can maintain your energy levels and help to prevent your muscle mass from decreasing.

For this I would suggest that whole grains are your best bet! Not only do whole grains provide you with the carbohydrates necessary for strength and energy, but they are also crammed full of nutrients that further aid the healing process. Zinc and iron also play an important part when it comes to staying strong and for these two things you can opt for high quality meat and poultry products, as well as sea food and beans. If you are following a diet that does not include meat products then you can choose zinc supplements instead of these foods. Your healthcare professional will be able to guide you when it comes to knowing how much zinc you should aim to include.

 

Post-Surgery Support

As well as your diet, it is course a good idea to have support from family and friends both before and after surgery. Not only will this help you to stay positive but will also mean you do not have to over-exert yourself when it comes to taking care of yourself. Make sure that anybody who you spend time with before and after surgery is aware of your dietary requirements and allow them to help you as best they can on the road to recovery!

With a healthy diet and a great support network around you as you get back on your feet, you may find that you heal quicker than you thought you would. Once you feel as though you are back to your usual self, you should aim to continue with the recent improvements to your diet that you have adopted. This will help your body to stay strong and help to prevent other health problems from occurring.

References

1) http://www.livestrong.com/article/107445-foods-after-surgery/

2) http://surgery.about.com/od/aftersurgery/ss/EatAfterSurgery.htm