Did you know that preparing your body for surgery is just as important as preparing for the surgery itself?
When we think about surgery, we often focus on finding the right surgeon, completing medical tests, and planning for recovery. But there's one important step we sometimes overlook which is giving our bodies the nutrients they need to heal, repair, and rebuild.
Think of it this way: Your body is about to do some serious repair work! Just like building a strong house requires the right materials, your body needs the right nutrients to repair tissues, support your immune system, and help your cells recover after surgery.
And here's something worth knowing: Good nutrition doesn't start after surgery. It starts before you ever enter the operating room.
One of the best ways to prepare is by eating whole, nutrient-rich foods. Fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats provide vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that work together to nourish your body. This teamwork is called a synergistic effect when nutrients work together to support your health.
While supplements may be helpful when needed, food should be your first choice whenever possible.
So, what should you eat to help prepare your body for surgery and support a healthy recovery?
Let's explore a few simple nutrition tips to help you nourish your cells, support tissue repair, and give your body a strong foundation for healing.
Surgery is a big deal and preparing your body to recover well is critical. As preparation, you want to nourish the body and ensure you’re supporting it sufficiently for tissue development and repair, which includes cellular support. It’s always best to get vitamins and minerals from food since each food has multiple vitamins and minerals that work together (i.e. synergistic effect) to provide the highest level of nutrition. Some quick recommendations include:
Consume whole foods (i.e., non-processed and if possible organic). Each meal should contain all macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, and fats):
Carbohydrates - Consume complex carbohydrates, which include dark leafy greens (they provide B vitamins, iron, zinc) which are beneficial for cellular support, tissue development, and are anti-inflammatory. Also, consume a color variety of fruits and vegetables as well as whole grains (e.g. oatmeal, rye, etc.).
Proteins – Consume lean meats, chicken, and fatty fish (e.g., wild caught or canned salmon, mackerel, anchovies, sardines, and herring). Also bone broth, which is a rich source of collagen, is also needed for muscle repair. Also, legumes, beans, nuts, and seeds (e.g., flax seed and chia).
Fats – Consume quality healthy fats such as ghee, olive oil, avocado oil (for high eat cooking).
Gut Health: You also want to support your gut since a healthy microbiome promotes overall health – foods like quality yogurt (e.g. unsweetened Greek yogurt), sauerkraut, tempeh (fermented tofu) and flax seed further boost your gut health.
Fluid Intake: It’s critical to drink adequate amounts of water daily – this should be ½ your body weight in ounces daily. Make sure not to drink more than 100 oz of water daily to avoid depleting your electrolytes.
Supplementation: Supplements supportive for surgery preparation and recovery (e.g., wound healing, inflammation reduction, tissue/ muscle repair, cellular support, tissue repair and wound healing):
Vitamin C
Biotin
Zinc
Magnesium (Magnesium Chloride & Magnesium Oxide)
B-complex vitamin
Note: A quality woman’s multivitamin supplement should have adequative amounts of these vitamins (e.g. Pure Woman’s Nutrients 40+ multivitamin)
Omega-3 fatty acids (e.g., cod liver oil in liquid form or pill form such as Pure O.N.E Omega or Throne Super EPA)
Hydrogen inhalation before and after surgery
Herbal Support
Turkey Tail mushroom (e.g., Micro Ingredients Turkey Tail Mushroom Powder which can be added to soups and smoothies)
Tip: Drastically reduce or stop drinking coffee, soda (diet or regular), processed foods - high glycemic (sugar) foods, high sodium, saturated fats (Note: ghee is the exception). Process foods are high in empty calories since they do not provide adequate nutrition and cause inflammation in the body which leads to poor health.
Lastly, STRESS LESS. Go on walks, do breathing exercise, get sunshine if possible, and get 8-9 hours of sleep nightly to reduce stress in your body. You want your body to be in a nourished and restful state so that it has more than enough energy for a quick and speedy recovery.
Conclusion
As the saying goes, all surgery is major surgery and anything you can do to help yourself recover well is a plus. Interested in learning more about how functional nutrition can help optimize and transform your health? Book a discovery call with us today.
