Nutrition and Surgery

Good nutrition before a surgical procedure improves the outcome of the trauma the body undergoes.  After surgery, eating properly helps in the recovery process.  Obtaining adequate calories and protein is vital.  Protein is extremely important for recuperation because it is:

· required to form antibodies to fight infections

· vital for synthesizing collagen, which is necessary for scar formation

· utilized to rebuild damaged tissue

· the backbone for repair and maintenance of many crucial tissues in the body

In addition, plasma proteins, formed from dietary proteins, maintain fluid and electrolyte balance.

Other important nutrients specific to wound healing include Vitamin C and zinc. Vitamin C is found in many delicious foods, including citrus fruits, broccoli, dark green vegetables, peppers, tomatoes, cantalope, papayas, and mangoes. Sources of zinc include meat, fish, poultry, beans, yogurt, milk, cheese, brown rice, wholegrain cereals, and pumpkin seeds.

Anyone with post-surgery complications or depleted nutrition stores needs more calories and protein than s/he did before the procedure, regardless of his or her weight.  A higher caloric intake also increases the need for B-vitamins.  Foods are probably the best source of vitamins, but supplements can be very helpful in healing and recovery.

In summary, the best general plan is to get your nutrients from a well-balanced eating plan, rich in a variety of fruits, veggies, and protein sources.  Several nutrients are important in supporting a healthy central nervous system.  Obtaining them through foods is recommended as that is the best way for your body to absorb them and the nutrients are in their natural state.  There are also times when it may be advisable to take supplementation, and your doctor or nutritionist may be helpful in designing a program for you.

Nutrient	Action(s)	Good Sources
Vitamin A	Helps maintain nerve cell sheaths	Fortified dairy products
Beta-carotene (which is converted to Vitamin A)	Helps maintain nerve cell sheaths	Spinach, dark leafy green vegetables, broccoli, deep orange fruits and veggies
Thiamine (Vitamin B-1)	Helps maintain a normal metabolism and burns carbohydrates. Supports healthy nervous system	Liver, pork, whole grains, nuts, soybeans, peas
Niacin (Vitamin B-3)	Healthy skin, normal working of the stomach and intestinal tract, caring for the nervous system, and production of the sex hormones. May also improve circulation and reduce high blood cholesterol levels.	Milk, eggs, meat, fish, whole grains
Vitamin B-12	Maintains the sheath that surrounds and protects nerve fibers and promotes their normal growth	All animal-based foods, yeast.
Copper	Helps form the protective covering of the nerves, remove free radicals, prevent cell structure damage	Grains, nuts, meats, seeds, green vegetables, some drinking water