After undergoing surgery, a body needs enough calories and nutrients to fully recover from the procedure. Eating the right foods after surgery can support faster healing as well as decrease the likelihood of any possible side effects like swelling, bruising and inflammation. In addition to that, specific foods can also minimize digestive upset caused by antibiotics and prescription pain medications. Being mindful of what food you consume post surgical procedure provides you enough energy to get back to your normal routine. If you know someone who will soon be undergoing a surgical procedure, be sure to increase the intake of the following food groups for a faster recovery time.
Lean Protein: Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body. Collagen plays a vital role in connecting tissue muscle back together. After surgery, it is important to increase the amount of lean protein you consume to ensure your body heals properly. When focusing on consuming protein, limit intake of red meat and opt for leaner protein options like fish, chicken, and turkey.
Fermented Dairy: This is important to incorporate into a post surgical due to the high amount of healthy bacteria in dairy products. Antibiotics are routinely prescribed after surgery to prevent infection, and these antibodies kill the bacteria in our digestive tract that helps us breakdown food. Eating fermented dairy can regenerate these helpful bacteria and keep your digestive system functioning properly.
Deep Colored Fruits: The stress of surgery along with medications used during the procedure can increase the oxidative load on the body. This means that there is a limit of free-radical production between molecules and ions, making chemical synthesizing processes of the human body more difficult. Antioxidants serve to balance the increased level of oxidants and these can be found in fruits that blue, red, black and purple. Plums, berries, and pomegranates are examples of fruits that are enriched in antioxidants.
Cruciferous Vegetables: Cruciferous vegetables are in the Brassicaceae family which are primarily leafy green vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and brussel sprouts. These vegetables are high in indoles and phytonutrients that boost immune health. Incorporating these vegetables in to post-opt diet is important because they help your body fight off infection.
At South Coast Post Acute, we specialize in rehabilitating patients after they have surgery. Our post-acute care facilities and our top rated doctors and nutritionists work around the clock to make your recovery process as safe and comfortable as possible. To learn more, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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