Vegetables and fruits. As with any diet, fruits and vegetables are recommended, especially dark leafy greens. Other good foods include red onions, broccoli, pineapples and apples, and capers to decrease swelling faster. These provide your body with essential vitamins to help you heal and fight infection.
Eating foods rich in protein is important for healing and repairing tissues. Protein also helps your body make new blood cells, which are necessary for wound healing. Good sources of protein include lean meats, poultry, fish, tofu, eggs, legumes, and nuts.
Foods to avoid
As well as eating the right foods after surgery, there are a few you should avoid. Some options increase the chances of constipation, including cheese, red meat, sugary treats, and processed foods. Processed foods also lack the nutrients needed to heal, so are especially detrimental to your health.
As the body begins healing itself, thousands of cells are sent to the affected body part. This is part of the first stage of healing called the inflammatory phase. The influx of all of these cells to the area causes more swelling.
First and foremost, drink plenty of water! Water serves a lot of functions in the body and will be particularly good to reduce swelling after surgery.
This helps to reduce swelling, improve circulation, and minimize the risk of postoperative complications, such as blood clots. Simply walking around the room or to and from the bathroom several times a day is usually sufficient for the first several days after surgery.
Eating foods that are rich in carbohydrates help your brain, central nervous system, heart muscles, and kidneys. Foods that are rich in complex carbohydrates are: Grains: Brown Rice, Whole Wheat Bread, and Oats. Fruit: Raspberries, Plantains, and Bananas.
Limit unhealthy foods, such as those that are high in fat, sugar, and salt. Examples include doughnuts, cookies, fried foods, candy, and regular soda. These kinds of foods are low in nutrients that are important for healing.
Berries–such as blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries–are all incredible sources of antioxidants. Other forms of fresh fruit, like oranges, peaches, and pears are great to incorporate into your post-surgery diet as well.
Drinking at least 64 ounces of water a day during recovery is recommended by doctors to ensure optimal health after surgery. Many patients also opt to drink sports drinks such as Gatorade or Powerade for added electrolytes.
Yogurt contains healthy bacteria that can help restore gut health after antibiotics and surgery. Yogurt is also easy to tolerate; it is unlikely to cause nausea or vomiting after surgery. And it contains zinc and protein, two nutrients that promote healing.
Inactivity can increase your risk of developing edema after surgery, which is one of the reasons post-surgery swelling is so common. Depending on the procedure you had done, it might be difficult to move around and stay active while you're recovering from surgery.
Generally, your swelling will peak in the first days or weeks after surgery and then gradually go down over time. Your swelling may not completely go down until months after your procedure, but you should recognize slight improvements every day.
It also nourishes and repairs dehydrated, scarred or mature skin. - It accelerates the healing process to wounds and skin burns. Applying avocado to raw wounds helps in quick healing and also prevents scarring.
High content of zinc and protein present in milk and yoghurt helps in the healing process of the wound.
Pineapple and papaya are known to reduce swelling and inflammation because they contain protease enzymes that the body uses to digest proteins. Consuming pineapple and papaya after surgery will help offset the swelling that may occur after surgery.
If you've been recently injured or are having trouble healing, try adding the following foods to your diet: .Fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin A and C: Green leafy vegetables, cruciferous vegetables, and fruits like pineapple, cantaloupe, citrus fruits and juices, as well as tomato juice help heal.
Therefore, should you eat chicken and eggs after a surgery? Yes, it is completely safe and even advisable. However, if you are still not convinced and do not feel comfortable eating them, it is also alright to skip the chicken and egg. Nevertheless, remember to get your protein from the other sources as mentioned.
Significant swelling can persist about two weeks after surgery though minor swelling can last for about two more weeks, and residual swelling may continue for another few weeks or even months after that.
Use a conservative approach. While you are still in the hospital after surgery, you may be encouraged to walk once you are able. Do one lap around your ward three to six times a day. By day four, back at home, you should be walking for five full minutes, up to six times a day.