The best meals before surgery will include a balance of lean protein, unprocessed carbohydrates, vegetables, and healthy (mainly plant-based) fats. Lean protein sources could include eggs, chicken, and fish. You can add a range of healthy carbohydrates like bananas, buckwheat, quinoa, sweet potatoes, and more.
Within 24 hours of any surgical procedure that involves anesthesia, you should avoid high-fiber foods of all types, including fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and whole grains. During the two weeks leading up to surgery, you should avoid eating fish or taking fish oil or omega-3 supplements.
Things To Follow Two to Three Days Before Surgery
Maintain a healthy and well-balanced diet by eating a variety of foods, including lean meats like chicken and fish, low-fat dairy products, whole grains, and fresh fruits and vegetables.
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.
Hydration. Most adults need to drink 64 ounces of water a day, about eight glasses. This is especially important when healing a wound. Water is the best hydration source, but milk, juice, or tea can also help keep skin healthy as long as the drinks are not too sugary.
may assist in decreasing tissue swelling – reducing water retention by increasing urine production and lowering sodium. increases production of white blood cells (ripe bananas do this better than green ones) – due to the release of Vitamin C. improves nerve conduction.
Please stop taking all herbal remedies, aspirin, and anti-inflammatory medications (Advil, Aleve, Ibuprofen, Motrin, Naproxen, etc.) seven days prior to surgery unless otherwise instructed. However, it is okay to take Tylenol (acetaminophen) if something is needed for pain.
Do not take herbal supplements, including vitamin E and Fish Oil, one week before surgery. Do not take anti-inflammatories (such as ibuprofen, Motrin, Advil, Daypro, Aleve, Naprosyn, naproxen, etc.) for five days prior to surgery, or as instructed by your surgeon. Do not shave the operative site for 48 hours prior.
Beta-carotene – Foods rich in beta-carotene can promote immune defenses by keeping skin and mucous healthy to hold back bacteria and viruses. Apricots, asparagus, beef liver, beets, broccoli, collard and mustard greens, yellow and winter squash, and watermelon are all good sources of beta-carotene.
The Don'ts
Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your surgery. This includes water, coffee, gum, or mints. If you do, it may be necessary to cancel your surgery. Do not smoke or use chewing tobacco after midnight the night before your surgery.
Take nothing by mouth after midnight the night before. This means that you cannot drink any liquids, eat food, chew gum, smoke a cigarette, or have a mint. If you brush your teeth, do not swallow any water. If your surgery is late in the day, please ask the nurse or anesthesiologist about having a light breakfast.
Green tea, cayenne, ginkgo, garlic, ginger, flaxseed, tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplant may have a negative effect on anesthesia or bleeding time. Foods high in refined sugar should be avoided as they can suppress immune function.
Eating Choices in the Days Leading Up to Surgery
Eating a high-protein diet in the days or even weeks before surgery will help you heal faster after the procedure. Some good choices include low-fat dairy products, tofu, beans, chicken, pork, and seafood. We also recommend that you drink a lot of water to stay hydrated.
Avoid drinking for several days before surgery. Similarly, stay away from street drugs, including cannabis. Smoke. You know smoking is bad for your health, so you won't be surprised that it's also bad for you when you need anesthesia.
jam + 1 cup of juice Do not eat high protein, high fat foods such as: meat, eggs, cheese, fried food, margarine, butter, peanut butter, or nut butters with this snack. STOP EATING FOOD 6 hours before surgery. You can continue to drink clear (see-through) fluids up to 2 hours before surgery.
Before your surgery, your skin needs to be as clean as possible. You can decrease the germs on your skin and reduce your risk of infection by following the shower instructions we have provided. You are required to shower both the night before and the morning of your surgery.
Some patients may want to let loose a few days before surgery or have a post-surgery celebratory drink, but our physicians warn that doing so is very dangerous! Alcohol interferes with your blood's ability to clot, which could make incisions and controlling blood loss during surgery particularly difficult.
You may not need to stop vitamin D before surgery. Studies have shown that patients with vitamin D deficiency have higher mortality rates after ICU admissions. Also, patients who underwent non-heart surgery and had high vitamin D levels have been found to have significantly lower mortality rates.
Drinking 500 mL (2 cups) of clear apple juice or cranberry cocktail 3 hours before your Surgery Time is called carbohydrate loading (carb loading). Carb loading helps your body have enough energy to get through the physical stress of surgery. The extra energy helps you begin your recovery immediately 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.
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.