Nutrition is a vital role in your recovery after surgery. Good nutrition helps your body repair tissue and heal wounds. Sometimes people have a lack of appetite after surgery. However, failing to eat enough nutrients after surgery can delay the healing process. Now is NOT the time for weight loss. Often when people are sedentary they worry about gaining weight and will decrease their caloric intake. In fact, your caloric needs are higher than usual because your body requires energy from nutritious foods to promote the healing process. If overall energy and protein needs are not met, body tissue will begin to breakdown compromising healing and prolonging recovery. It is important to eat well-balanced meals and a wide variety of foods. Eliminate junk food, as you need whole foods that are packed with nutritional value. Your body requires more protein during this time. Good protein sources include lean beef, poultry, fish, seafood, nuts and legumes. In addition, vegetables and fruits are important as they contain many vitamins and minerals that help reduce inflammation as well as accelerating wound healing after surgery. Proper hydration also assists in wound healing. It is important to drink a minimum of eight glasses per day. The easiest way to tell if you are not drinking enough water is to analyze your urine, which should be clear and odorless if you are sufficiently hydrated. Susan Bisseck, FNP
