Nutrition and Exercise
You may not realize it, but you are one of the most important members of your healthcare team!
Having surgery is stressful on your body, but if you take charge of your health and prepare yourself, you can decrease you chances of complications. Don’t wait until surgery is scheduled—as soon as you know surgery could be a possibility, take the following steps to get yourself prepared for your procedure:
Increase your intake of protein. Protein helps build and maintain tissue and speeds up wound healing. Start increasing your intake of protein now to ensure your levels are high enough to support good wound healing. Lean sources of protein include lean meats and fish, beans, peas, and lentils, low-fat cottage cheese, yogurt, tofu, low-fat milk, and egg whites. Protein shakes, such as Ensure® and Boost®, are also good options for increasing protein intake.
Eat clean. In the weeks and days leading up to your surgery, focus on eating whole fruits, vegetables, and lean protein and avoid processed foods. This will decrease inflammation in your body and promote a better recovery.
Get moving. Increasing your activity level now means you will be able to move sooner after surgery. You don’t have to be an athlete to increase how often you move. Start a walking routine and build up the amount of time you spend in active movement. This simple step can help you get back to your pre-surgery level of activity faster.