Undergoing surgery is never easy. Before the surgery, you may feel anxious and have a lot of questions about the procedure, but that doesn’t mean the post-surgery period cannot be just as challenging mentally, especially if you’re the type of person who’s used to having a busy schedule and may want to return to your regular routine. Unfortunately, in some instances, patients are victims of medical negligence and recovery no longer looks how it’s supposed to be, as the victim’s life changes significantly – you can read more on how medical negligence is identified if you want to learn about the different kinds of situations when victims can sue their doctor for breaching their duty of care.
If the medical procedure goes well, it’s still necessary to look after yourself and give your body enough time to heal and the foods you eat play a big role in the process, as they can speed up or slow down the recovery process. A diet that involves a lot of protein, calories, minerals and vitamins will give your body the nutrients it needs, ensuring it is strong enough to recover quickly. Furthermore, eating the right foods may even help you decrease your risk for surgery complications. One thing to keep in mind is that your nutrition will strongly depend on the type of surgery that you’ve had: for instance, a low-fibre diet is appropriate for those who’ve had bowel surgery, while those who have liver or kidney disease may need to reduce their protein intake.
In some cases, you may only be allowed to consume clear liquids such as broth, water, tea or white grape or apple juice until your digestive system functions properly again. It’s essential to follow specific recommendations from your surgeon when it comes to your diet because they are the ones who know exactly what your condition is and what can best support your healing.  That being said, all post-surgery diets have one thing in common: they include nutritious foods that help your body heal properly. In this blog, we will discuss which foods you should eat – and which you shouldn’t – if you’ve recently had surgery, so keep reading to learn more.
Choose whole foods
If you plan to stock up before the surgery or go shopping after it, we recommend taking a look at your usual diet and noticing if you can make any positive changes, such as eating more whole foods (namely, foods that are minimally processed). Needless to say, whole foods are healthier than processed foods as they aren’t as high in salt, fat, and sugar.
Eating processed foods could slow the recovery process by contributing to inflammation. Instead of opting for French fries, for example, choose baked potato instead, as the latter is a better option for your health and will support your body in healing faster. And, looking on the bright side, your surgery could actually give you that extra incentive that will empower you to make a lasting change to your eating habits – and the benefits will be long-lasting.
Eat fibre to prevent constipation
While constipation is mainly associated with bowel surgery, it can occur regardless of the surgical procedure you’ve had. This often happens because of prescription pain medications like opioids which slow bowel movements, leading to hard-to-pass stools. Being constipated can increase your pain level and lower your appetite while also putting stress on surgical incisions, which can all slow down the healing process. To prevent constipation, it’s important to make sure that your diet includes enough fibre – especially insoluble fibre. Some high-fibre foods to eat include oatmeal, whole-wheat bread, beans and legumes, fresh vegetables and fruits, and bran cereals. Alternatively, you can take a fibre supplement such as psyllium to enhance your fibre intake; however, remember that you won’t get the same nutritional benefits as you’d if you ate whole foods.
When looking to prevent constipation, it’s just as important to know what foods to avoid—at least until you can have soft bowel movements. Cheese, red meat, white bread, pasta, and processed meats like hot dogs and bacon can increase the risk of constipation, so it’s best to steer clear of them during the recovery process.
Opt for fresh veggies and fruits
Fresh vegetables and fruits are a great source of vitamins, fibre, and minerals, supporting post-surgery recovery. However, controlling your intake is essential because some fruits and veggies, when consumed in high amounts, can lead to diarrhoea and bloating. It’s recommended to avoid fruits high in fructose if you’re recovering from bowel surgery, including cherries, apples, pears, dried fruits like prunes, raisins, figs, and watermelon and mangoes.
Similarly, you should avoid vegetables that are gassy until your digestion settles, such as broccoli, cabbage, celery, onions, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, carrots, green peppers, and radishes.
Eat lean protein
Dietary protein is essential for post-surgery recovery because it offers the building blocks for new muscles and tissues. However, some sources of protein—such as processed meats and red meat—are high in saturated fat, and eating too much of them can place inflammatory stress on the digestive tract and increase the risk of constipation.
To avoid this, consider opting for lean protein foods instead, such as skinless turkey, skinless chicken, fish and seafood, tofu, peanut butter or nut butter, low-fat milk and unsweetened yoghurt, and protein powder.
Consume low-fat dairy
Non-fat and reduced-fat dairy products are excellent sources of Vitamin D, calcium, protein and minerals, supporting wound healing. But it’s essential to limit their consumption after surgery if you’ve previously experienced constipation due to their consumption before surgery. Also, if you have a pre-existing lung disease, it’s possible to experience more lung secretions and coughing after eating dairy, and in this case, it may be necessary to reduce dairy intake.
The best way to consume dairy is to take it slow and opt for low-fat alternatives first, as they will make digestion easier. These can include fat-free yoghurt (but make sure to choose an unsweetened option), skim milk, and low-fat cottage cheese.
What can you do if you don’t have much appetite after surgery?
Once you’ve had surgery, you may not have much appetite – and if you experience vomiting, nausea, or abdominal cramping, you probably won’t want to eat at all. While your appetite will come back a few days after the surgery, you should still do your best to maintain proper nutrition in the meantime, so make sure to eat small amounts of bland foods during the day, especially calorie-dense foods which have a lot of nutrients.
Some calorie-dense foods you can include in your diet include eggs, nuts, potatoes and sweet potatoes, avocados, oily fish such as tuna and salmon, and hummus. If you’ve had throat, mouth, or stomach surgery, it may be easier for you to drink than eat, and in this case, you can opt for foods such as chicken broth, smoothies, and creamed soups, which you can sip through a straw or drink.
The bottom line
Eating nourishing foods after surgery is essential because it will provide your body with the fuel to recover as fast as possible. The general rule is to opt for whole foods and avoid processed ones that are high in sugar and low in fibre, but it’s essential to check with your doctor or a registered dietitian and follow their recommendations about the specific foods you are allowed to eat based on your personal circumstances.
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