Developing a good diet following a surgery can often be difficult due to loss of appetite, but diet is a vital part of the healing process. The body requires a lot of energy to recover and rebuild itself, so it is important that any diet provides the proper amount of calories. While some individuals may reduce their caloric intake because they may be immobile following a surgery, it is actually often better to increase calories. Beyond calories from food, the body needs plenty of fluids during the recovery process, and it is best to drink water throughout the day rather than wait until one feels thirsty.
Since most surgery results in muscle tissue being either damaged or moved, protein is a necessary part of a postsurgery diet. Any food that contains protein, from beans and nuts to meat and eggs, promotes tissue repair and regrowth and helps the healing process go faster. Carbohydrates from fruits, vegetables, and cereals prevent muscle breakdown and provide the body with more energy for healing, while lipids from oils and nuts improve the body’s immune response and absorption of certain vitamins. Beyond food, taking vitamin C and E further promotes healing and antioxidant defense.