As a person ages, the risk of surgery increases with age during their lifetime. Surgery is very common these days. Thousands of surgeries are performed worldwide as a medical intervention. The recovery from surgery takes a little time.
Nutrition is among the major factors that can speed up recovery or healing. Dietary choices and habits define how well or how quickly you will recover after surgery. Making the right choices in diet can really make the process smooth and steady.
Foods To Avoid
As discussed, recovery after surgery is all dependent upon the choices you make. Eating unhealthy foods will only delay the process of healing. Here are foods one must avoid for speedy recovery after surgery.
1. Alcohol
There is a list of reasons to avoid alcohol in order to promote the post-surgery healing process. Alcohol can make blood thinner, and it also reduces the ability of the body to clot, and as a result, the healing process slows down. Consuming alcohol when on pain medication can become extremely dangerous. Hence it should not be consumed for at least two weeks after surgery.
Nowadays, the results of each study reflect how injurious alcohol is for health. People consume alcohol to release stress and feel high, especially after a complicated surgery. Americans can luckily find quality treatment options anywhere close to them. So those struggling with addiction in New Jersey (NJ) can conveniently find addiction treatment centers in NJ to help them improve their quality of life.
2. Processed Foods
Highly processed foods are the ones to avoid for a speedy recovery. Especially after surgery, when you cannot move much than to keep the bowel movement smooth, it is better to avoid processed food. You are more likely to experience constipation if you too often rely on processed food.
Your body needs the right balance of nutrients for a speedy recovery. However, processed food has fewer nutrients to offer to the body. Additionally, these are too low on fiber count.
3. Sugary Foods
Sugary foods and drinks are also prohibited for fast-paced healing and recovery. Sugary drinks are calorie-packed drinks with the least nutritional value. Too much sugary food can also induce bodily inflammation and thus may even slow down the healing process.
Foods To Eat
You can find a list of healthy foods that help you to heal more quickly. Making the maximum use of healthy foods is the best and the simplest thing you can do to speed up the healing process. Let us go through the list of healthy foods that you can eat after surgery.
1. Water
To aid post-surgery recovery, one should never overlook the importance of water. Since the body comprises mostly water, in order to avoid dehydration, it is essential to drink sufficient amounts of water. With high potency medications, the body needs more fluid intake than usual. Thus make sure that you are drinking enough water to support the healing process.
2. Whole Grains
Whole grains are an excellent option for keeping bowel movements healthy. Whole grain will allow you to get rid of constipation, as it is common after surgeries. Whole grains are the source of the right carbohydrates that not only provide a dose of fiber but also keep energy levels steady.
3. Probiotics
Surgery and medications can upset your gut balance, and nothing can play a better role than probiotics to retain that balance. Probiotics promote healthy bacteria that live in the gut area and make gut biomes. This gut biome aids the digestion process. Probiotics can be extremely beneficial if you are dealing with symptoms of nausea and constipation. Dairy products such as yogurt make an excellent source of it.
4. Meat Proteins
Meat proteins help the damaged tissues to heal and recover. The body needs more meat, protein, and iron to build new tissues. Amino acids present in meat are useful for the regeneration of new tissues and repair of damaged tissues. Make sure that the meat is properly cooked so that it can be chewed and digested easily.
Organ meat also makes a great source of iron. The body needs more iron to make up for the lost blood and to make more new red blood cells. Iron also helps to maintain a good energy level, especially after surgery when people generally experience low energy levels.
5. Healthy Fats
Skip saturated fats and make use of healthy fats. You can find a number of plant-based and animal-based healthy fats. Olive oil is a great source of healthy fats that can uplift your healing process. Fats provide energy to the body, cushion the cells, protects them and keep the body warm.
Omega-3 fatty acids are another healthy fat that you can draw into the body by consuming more fatty fish. Nuts can also be utilized to get healthy fats. In addition to fats, nuts abundantly supply Vitamin E, which has healing properties and also reduces the appearance of scars.
6. Fruits
Fruits that are rich in Vitamin C make a great option for a post-surgery diet. Vitamin C plays a vital role in rebuilding collagen in the body. It also promotes the growth of soft tissues, which makes it a great nutrient to boost recovery. You can abundantly source Vitamin C from various fruits.
Blueberries are not only strong antioxidants, but they also richly supply Vitamin C to the body. Other than blueberries, pomegranates, grapes, blackberries, raspberries and even strawberries are great options.
7. Vegetables
As far as a balanced diet is concerned, a person needs to take at least 3-4 servings of vegetables. To maintain the balance and to acquire recovery boosting nutrients, you should never ignore vegetables in your diet. Vegetables are an excellent source of carbs, fiber and many essential vitamins that aid the repair process in the body.
Take Away
Investing a little time and effort in your diet can really speed up the recovery process. Make sure that you do not ruin your natural pace of recovery by eating unhealthy foods. Avoid unhealthy foods and make the most use of the healthier ones, and you will do great through your recovery process.
