While it’s true that the end-result of cosmetic surgery is to improve the way you look on the outside, it’s more important to think about what you’re putting inside your body while you’re on the road to recovery. This most definitely includes watching what you eat to optimize post-surgery healing. To reduce inflammation and speed up recovery, consider adding the following foods to your diet:

• More water. Drinking more water is critical to helping you heal. H20 reduces your risk of side effects while on pain medication (like constipation), while minimizing the risk of infection.
• Vegetables and fruits. As with any diet, fruits and vegetables are recommended, especially dark leafy greens. Other good foods include red onions, broccoli, pineapples and apples, and capers to decrease swelling faster. These provide your body with essential vitamins to help you heal and fight infection.
• Omega-3 fats. Reduce and control inflammation by eating foods rich in omega-3 acids such as fatty fish like salmon, halibut or mackerel, as well as fish oil, flax and flaxseed oil, hempseed and hempseed oil, and walnuts and walnut oil.
• Spinach. This green leafy vegetable is packed with nutrients, including vitamin E, vitamin C and beta-carotene, making it one of the most important foods to control inflammation.
• Eggs. Egg yolks contain amino acids that are known to reduce inflammation, minimize pain and help with healing. Eggs themselves are rich in antioxidants that have been known to reduce swelling and help with recovery.
• Spices. There are many herbs and foods that have been known for their anti-inflammatory properties, including Bromelain (which is found in pineapple), ginger, chili peppers and parsley.

Do you want to learn more about how diet can promote healing after surgery?
If you are interested in learning more about ways to a speedy recovery, contact Dr. Smith. Our office can be found in Okatie, South Carolina. You may also call us at 843.705.8940. We look forward to hearing from you!

• Drink at least 64 ounces of water per day. (Our body is 70% water and needs to be aggressively replaced).
• Eat more fruits and vegetables and less pasta, breads, grains and cereals.
• Eat more frequent meals with fewer calories.
• Eat small amounts of low fat protein at every meal and snack.
• Determine how much protein you require per day and consume only that amount.
• Use the eyeball method to control your ratio of protein to carbohydrates at every meal.
• Add some extra non-saturated fat to each meal.
• Drink 8 ounces of water thirty minutes before each meal.
• Make sure most of your carbohydrates come from fruits and vegetables and use grains, breads, pastas as condiments only.
• Never let more than five hours go by without eating a meal or snack
• Eat five times a day, three meals and two snacks
• Always eat breakfast and within one hour of rising.
• Always have a small snack before bedtime.
• Always have a small snack a half hour before exercising.
• Do not eat any more protein than what fits in the palm of your hand.
• Eat double the amount of favorable carbohydrates then protein at each meal.