Heal Your Surgery With The Right Diet

By Suparna Chakaraborthy

Thursday, March 17, 2011, 11:31

There are some health disorders which require to undergo a surgery like heart surgery, gallbladder, stomach etc. During a surgery usually there is some amount of blood loss, wear and tear on the body tends to weaken the organ and it also effects the immunity of the body. After a surgery the main aim is to quicken the healing process. To heal the surgery wound your body requires more nutrients. Thus diet after surgery is very important. Different kind of surgeries have different diet guidelines but there are some common diet guidelines which are true for all kind of surgeries.

Diet After A Surgery -

1.Fiber Rich Food – One of the basic problem of every surgery is constipation. Constipation after surgery is very dangerous as, it might lead to opening of the stitches and create infection. To keep your stitches safe one of the basic requirement is a good bowel system. Any forced pressure on the body can lead to a post-surgery complications. The best way to cure constipation is to consume fiber rich food -

1. Whole Grain Breads – Rather than white bread, at whole grain bread. It might not be soft due to it's fiber content but is very good for the bowel system.
2. Fruits – Fruits are famous for their fibrous quality and the Vitamin C protects the body from infections.
3. Vegetables – Fresh green vegetables are good source of fiber, Vitamin B and iron.
All these fiber rich food also promote excellent digestive system.

2.Lean Protein – Lean protein is the next must in your diet after surgery. Protein helps in burning calories and building muscles. Thus, adding speed to the healing process. Lean meat like chicken and sea food like fish are a good source of lean protein. Red meat should be avoided as they may cause constipation and for the same reason even dairy products need to be consumed in moderation. Vegetarian sources of lean protein are tofu, beans and nuts.

3.Light food or Liquid Diet – As mentioned earlier, the goal after a surgery is to promote good digestive system. Thus, light and liquid diet is the best option. Liquid diet also enhances the speed of nutrition absorption. The best option for liquid diet are, soup, skim milk, fruit juice, khichri etc.

4.Add Calories – Calories are very important for quick healing, Thus diet after surgery should be rich in calories but after a surgery one of the basic symptom is loss of appetite. At such a time do not force yourself but eat small meals all day. Make sure whatever you eat is rich in calories. Some tips to enhance calorie intake are, eat sugar and not sugar substitutes, increase intake of butter, eat snacks between meals, increase intake of potatoes and have a bedtime snack everyday.

These are four basic points one should maintain in their diet after surgery. This diet will help you heal faster and also to start normal ways of life. Diet also prevents you from many post-surgery troubles like infections, pain etc.