1/30/2000

The Nutrition Prescription in Healing

by April Leikert RD
Nutrition plays an important role throughout life in growth, health maintenance and wound repair. It is vital in promoting healing from surgery, inflammation or infection. Good nutritional status before and after any trauma will encourage rapid recovery and help avoid complications. While it is important to follow current dietary guidelines, calories, protein, zinc and vitamin C are of particular importance.

Good nutrition begins with adequate calories. Chronic illness, recent surgery, depression, poor appetite, difficulty in chewing and swallowing may lead to malnutrition. Caloric needs are elevated during healing to compensate for the body’s response to stress and to replace lost tissue. Use the following table to estimate caloric needs.

*At Risk: unintended weight loss.

Without sufficient calories, protein cannot build skin cells or clot blood. Instead protein is used to provide energy. Therefore both nutrients are important now. Most foods contain traces of protein yet a food must contain 9 essential amino acids to be a high quality protein. Meat, poultry and soy products are common food sources.

*At risk in any of the following tables: recent surgery, blood loss, anemia, steroid use, chronic inflammation, bruising easily, those with cancer or undergoing chemo or radiation.
 Many other nutrients work to promote healing. Zinc is needed to help form new tissue. This mineral is easily found in many foods including meats.

Of course many know of vitamin C’s ability to fight infection. It is also necessary in building healthy new tissue. Look for vitamin C in citrus fruits, tomato juice, tomato sauce, kiwi, cantaloupe, green and red peppers, baked potatoes, spinach.

Any of the above mentioned foods contain 60 mg in a 1/2-3/4 c serving. If a person is at risk, eat 2 vitamin C rich foods a day.

Chronic poor appetite may indicate a need for a multivitamin. People with ostomies may enhance absorption by taking a liquid or chewable children’s vitamin. Liquid supplements or other nutrition therapy may also be necessary to satisfy nutrition demands. Future articles will offer tips in selecting a multivitamin.

For most people, a varied diet consisting of foods from the Food Guide Pyramid will provide nutrients essential in wound repair. After all, good nutrition in times of healing leads to an improved quality of life.