Q: Is there anything I can eat to help me better prepare and recover from surgery?
A: Your doctor wants you to recover well from any type of surgery — and good nutrition will help prepare your body before, heal better after and help fight infection. It’s important to eat enough calories, protein, vitamins and minerals because fueling your body the right way will help speed your recovery. Thankfully, getting the right nutrients doesn’t mean following a special diet, and it’s just as important for your everyday health.
Support your immune system. This powerhouse is responsible for keeping you well and it has many ways of defending your body. It protects against viruses and bacteria and helps you recover when you do get sick. Good nutrition that supports your immune system can help your recovery go smoothly.
One way to support a healthy immune system is increase your intake of antioxidants that come from the vitamins and minerals in the foods you eat. Antioxidants remove harmful free radicals in the blood stream that result from the body turning food into energy. These free radicals can change your DNA and keep your immune system from working at its best.
Vitamin C plays a role in making a protein called collagen. It’s used by the body to repair ligaments and tendons, make connective tissue and heal surgical wounds. Since surgery can cause the body’s metabolic rate to increase (and vitamin C levels to drop), it’s important to supplement your diet with this key vitamin. Citrus fruits are high in vitamin C, but there are other great sources including baked potatoes, broccoli, bell peppers, kiwi fruit and strawberries.