We have all heard the saying ‘you are what you eat’ and research shows that by choosing to eat a healthy, balanced diet we can improve and optimise our weight, our mood and our health.
Post surgery, it becomes even more vital to make the right food choices to help with wound healing and recovery. The food choices that you make now can enhance or diminish your results and the time it takes to recover from your procedure. Post Surgery Nutrition is more important than you think.
Cosmetic surgery, even a minor procedure, is a stressful event for the body. Metabolic processes in the body are triggered and go into overdrive in an attempt to repair damaged tissue. Providing your body with the right nutrients to fuel repair is vital. Good nutrition will accelerate healing, improve the appearance of scars, prevent infection and reduce inflammation.
During your recovery it is important to focus on having a balanced, healthy diet to provide all of the varied nutrients that your body needs. This is not the time to go on a restrictive diet or weight loss plan. Nor is it necessary to eat excessive amounts of calories to fuel your body during the recovery process. Focus should be on a diet which consists of a balance of the different food groups, as each provides different beneficial nutrients.
We’ve teamed up with registered dietitian Mairi Wilcock, of Stanner Nutrition Clinic in Preston to ask her expert opinion on what constitutes a healthy post- surgery diet. Mairi says…
One of the most important nutrients to aid would healing is protein. People often overlook protein in normal day to day living, so it needs extra careful consideration in the post- operative period. Good sources of protein are eggs, fish, lean meats, pulses such as lentils and beans and also nuts. Protein foods are often high in Iron, which helps to develop red blood cell production and also zinc, which promotes good wound healing. Make sure you include a small amount of protein with every meal you eat to keep it balanced.
Everyone has heard that we should be eating our 5-a-day of fruits and vegetables, however many people overestimate the amounts that they eat and what a portion size really is. My top tip for meeting fruit and vegetable goals is to try to have a hand sized portion of fruits or vegetables with each meal, and have a couple as snacks. Try to get as wide a variety of fruits and vegetables as you possibly can- the nutrient content in fruits and vegetables is very varied and you will get the best nutrition from eating lots of different kinds. Do not eat 5 bananas a day and think that this is good enough!
Many people try to avoid fat as they think it will make them gain weight and that it is bad for your heart. However fats are important for absorption of some important vitamins, also some fats are anti-inflammatory, helping to reduce swelling and inflammation. Focus on including small amounts of healthy fats in your diet, such as those from olive or rapeseed oil, avocado, oily fish or nuts and seeds.
Many people are confused about whether they should be eating carbohydrate foods because of the increased popularity of low carb diets in recent years. While sugary foods such as sweets, cakes and fizzy drinks should be avoided, it is important to include wholegrain starchy foods such as bread, potatoes, rice, pasta and cereals in your diet. These are a rich source of B vitamins, calcium and iron. They also contain fibre, which will help prevent constipation, which can be a side effect of pain medication after surgery.
Dairy foods have also suffered from recent bad press and are frequently avoided. Dairy foods are a rich source of Calcium and vitamins as well as providing protein. If you choose to avoid dairy it is important to choose a replacement which provides these extra nutrients.
Drinking plenty of water is vital in the post op period, it will help your kidneys to flush out waste from your system, keeps your skin supple during wound healing, helps to prevent constipation and helps blood circulation, promoting good wound healing.
If you feel you would benefit from further detailed nutritional advice, don’t hesitate to contact Mairi at enquiries@stanner-nutrition.co.uk or check out the clinic website at; www.stanner-nutrition.co.uk
Your surgeon will provide you with recovery advice and information and will also recommend reduced activity. It is important to understand that nutrition combined with rest and healing time are the ideal way to recover and as always, your aftercare nurse and patient care team are available for help throughout your cosmetic surgery journey. You can call your nurse with the number provided or contact us here