General Health-Related
Diet is important during recovery after a surgical procedure, illness, or injury. The foods we eat during these times can greatly affect the healing process, providing essential nutrients and helping tissue repair.
But what light foods are recommended after surgery, and how do certain foods aid healing? Which foods are best suited for promoting recovery when feeling under the weather? Let's find the recovery foods for healing so you can make informed dietary choices during these crucial times.
A healthy, fruitful lifestyle starts with proper nutrition. The right food leads to healthy and productive living. Nutrition is involved in supporting growth and development as well as tissue repair processes and the operations performed by major body organs.
Your dietary choices either contribute positively or negatively to the healing process. Here's why proper nutrition is important for fast recovery:
Appetite reduces during sickness, and people avoid food, thinking it will worsen the condition. But some foods can make you feel better and help you get well faster.
Let's find out the best foods to eat when sick:
Chicken Soup and Broths
They provide essential fluids and electrolytes that can be beneficial during illness. When served hot, they help to improve sinus congestion. Soups and broths are flavourful, nutrient-rich, and gentle on your digestion.
BRAT Diet
A special BRAT (Banana, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast) diet is recommended for adults and kids suffering from diarrhoea or vomiting to provide adequate nutrition. Add mild meals like saltine crackers, plain potatoes, or clear soup broths to the BRAT diet. Avoid dairy, sugary, and fatty foods, which may worsen nausea or diarrhoea.
Skinless Baked Lean Meat
When dealing with diarrhoea or an upset stomach, you might experience reduced appetite. Instead of fasting, go for bland options like baked chicken or turkey without the skin. These gentle-to-digest foods won't irritate your stomach.
Beans
Kidney beans, black beans, and soybeans are high in fibre and can help relieve constipation by softening your stool. Dried beans also provide magnesium, which can ease the body and reduce muscle aches.
Cereal and Oatmeal
Eat refined white flour cereals like cream of wheat and cornflakes, as they are low in fibre and can assist in managing symptoms of diarrhoea. For constipation, choose high-fibre meals like whole grain oatmeal and bran flour cereals because they have the much-needed fibres that help regulate bowel movements.
Eggs
Add cooked eggs to your bland diet if you're suffering from diarrhoea, nausea, or vomiting. Consume smaller, more frequent portions, and chew eggs slowly to reduce stress on your stomach.
Soups can be a great option - full of nutrients, hydrating, and easy to eat.
When it comes to staying hydrated during illness, water stands out as the best choice. Not only does it quench your thirst, but it also detoxifies your body.
You can enjoy these beverages during illness:
Some foods can either relieve or worsen the symptoms when you're sick. Based on the symptoms, avoid the following foods to expedite your recovery:
For athletes and active individuals recovering from injuries, smart nutrition is important to return stronger and healthier. Here are the best foods for recovery from an injury:
Colourful Salads
Include colourful vegetables in your daily salad for faster recovery. Use spinach or arugula as the salad base. Add orange carrots, spinach, red and green bell peppers, olives, purple cabbage, and white onions. Go easy on the dressing to keep it healthy.
Mixed Nuts
Nuts contain unique vitamins, rare minerals, healthy fats, and protein. Different nuts provide essential nutrients and trace elements that our bodies need in small amounts.
Smoothies
Citrus fruits like oranges and pineapples are rich in healing minerals and immune-boosting properties. Make delicious smoothies with bananas, colourful berries, yogurt, and protein powder.
Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes contain soluble fibre, Vitamins A, B, and C, iron, calcium, selenium, and antioxidants. Baked sweet potatoes with savoury or sweet spices can improve the recovery process.
Seafood
Salmon, trout, and shellfish are rich in protein, Omega-3 fatty acids, and healthy fats. They improve the body's natural healing processes. Shellfish is rich in zinc, which is important for the healing process and can speed up recovery.
It is important to understand what not to eat when injured for a smooth recovery.
These foods should be avoided because they can block nutrient absorption and hinder the production of collagen and elastin:
Brightly coloured fruits and vegetable contain many different vitamins and minerals.
The body is under major stress during surgery, which increases the chances of infection, pneumonia, and limited movement post-surgery. Nutrition is important for an easy transition period after surgery.
You should consume the following healing foods after surgery for faster recovery:
Whole Grains
Add fibre-rich whole grains like oatmeal, brown rice, barley, and quinoa into your post-surgery diet to prevent constipation.
Bright-Coloured Fruits
Oranges, berries, grapefruit, mango, and peaches are packed with vitamins A and C, carbohydrates, fibre, and antioxidants that will help you recover quickly.
Fresh Vegetables
Carrots, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts have inflammation-fighting antioxidants which help in recovery. However, avoid excessive consumption of vegetables to prevent gas and discomfort.
Protein
Protein from lean sources like skinless chicken, turkey, trimmed pork, fish, and seafood are important building blocks for tissue and muscle repair.
Chinese Soup
Chinese soups can be a delightful addition to your post-surgery diet. They contain delicious vegetables and herbs and are often chicken-based, providing essential micronutrients, antioxidants, and protein in a comforting bowl.
Besides the healthy foods you must eat after surgery, you should know the foods to avoid post-surgery. To heal faster after surgery, prevent these triggering foods:
Healing through nutrition is an integral part of the recovery process after surgery, during illness, or post-injury.
Consuming nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables, proteins, healing grains and legumes, healthy fats, and water will give your body the nutrients it needs for better healing.
Remember the importance of a balanced diet customized to your specific needs. Always talk to a doctor or nutritionist to get personalized advice on the best foods for healing for your particular needs.
What to Eat After Surgery to Heal Faster?
Take proteins along with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats for a fast recovery from surgery. Lean protein, kale, spinach, oranges, berries, quinoa, and barley are the best healing foods after surgery. Also, drink a lot of water to remain hydrated.
What Foods to Eat After Surgery to Reduce Swelling?
To reduce swelling and inflammation after surgery, eat bananas, strawberries, red onions, capers, pineapple, and papaya.
Which Fruit is Good for Wound Healing?
The best fruits for wound healing include vitamin C-rich citrus fruits, antioxidant-packed berries, papaya with anti-inflammatory papain enzyme, and bromelain-rich pineapple, aiding inflammation reduction and recovery.
What Liquid Foods to Eat After Surgery?
Eating solid foods post-surgery can be challenging. To overcome this issue, choose liquid options like broths, soups, smoothies, and meal replacement shakes. These liquid choices will provide essential nutrients till you can transition to your regular diet.
Originally published at
https://www.australiawidefirstaid.com.au/resources/best-foods-for-a-speedy-recovery
as part of the Australia Wide First Aid Articles Library