How Good Nutrition Before Surgery Promotes Faster Recovery
Obtaining nutrients is harder as the food we eat is less and less healthy. Caloric intake is easily overdone with the highly concentrated sugars and unhealthy fats in easy to access foods. Because of processing methods, food often needs enrichment with vitamins and minerals to keep pace with human requirements. Fruits and vegetables are grown in massive quantities over short periods of time and do not have the nutritional value that they did 20+ years ago. Data shows that over 80% of us in a healthy state, eating normally, are not getting appropriate amounts of basic vitamins such as A and C. Now, apply this nutritional deficit to those with injury or disease undergoing surgery, all of which demand more nutrients for healing and recovery. The shortage is huge.
Good nutrition and adequate levels of vitamins and minerals not only helps with healing and the stress demand of surgery, but also helps with quality of sleep, decreasing inflammation and pain, clear thinking and decision making, overall health, and many more important aspects of being a surgical patient. Asking patients to alter their diet or add in some vitamins, minerals, and supplements is easier said than done. Diet is deeply personal and emotional, and we need to get to bottom of this to make progress. Integrating eastern and western medicine therapies can help make this easier. If there is anxiety around food, acupuncture, talk therapy, and meditation can help ease that. If there are hormone imbalances then replacement needs to be considered. If overeating is habitual and the patient does not know why or how to stop, then hypnosis may help stop this pattern. For other individuals intermittent fasting is a good option to control caloric intake. Or simple education on healthy cooking and a few recipes for vegetables can help the 80% of Americans who do not obtain the recommended intake.
For surgery patients to have a positive effect on their outcome, these changes don’t have to be drastic or complicated or permanent. Simple can be effective! And many who are facing surgery are willing to make some changes to get through the operation with the best results. For example, removing sugar from the diet for at least 1 week before surgery and 1 week after helps decrease baseline inflammation and helps augment healing during healing phases 0-2.
What is Integrative Surgical Care and What does it Offer?
You will be better served through the mindful and thoughtful principles of Integrative Surgical Care, a surgeon-run and whole-patient focused wellness company bridging the philosophies of eastern and western medicines. By taking into consideration details of the surgical experience and melding that with the holistic care of the whole patient, every surgical patient can go into surgery prepared, better tolerate the operation, optimize their recovery, and minimize risk. Surgery is stressful on the mind, body, and spirit, and Integrative’s approach and services helps the patient regain control.
Surgery Ready Supplement is the only surgeon-manufactured supplement with the vitamins, minerals, and amino acids your body needs to heal and is the easiest and fastest way to start improving your surgical health. Arginine is one of the ingredients and I specifically used it for all of the reasons above. The supplement is safe to take before and after surgery. All it takes is 2 tablets and a dollar a day to improve your surgical health.
Integrative Surgical Care is the only surgical wellness coaching service available. It is nurturing and encouraging while you or a loved one goes through one of the toughest times in their life. By evaluating and improving sleep, pain, inflammation/mobility, nutrition, microbiomes, and stress, you can take charge of your surgical health.
Achieve control today.
As always, check with your healthcare providers before making any changes, deletions, or additions to your daily health routine.
