Recovering from surgery can be a challenging task for a senior. Getting the right types of food ensures the body has the nutrition it needs to heal properly. Make sure your senior loved one eats the following healthy foods when recovering from a surgery.
1. Lean Proteins
Protein is essential for building new cells after surgery. It is ideal to pick proteins that contain a lot of iron for blood cell production. Good options include black beans, chicken, lean ground beef, and lentils.
Switching to healthy foods is just one of the many ways older adults can speed up the recovery process. Seniors who want to remain healthy as they age can benefit in a variety of ways when they receive professional non-medical home care. Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Senior Stride Home Care is here to help your loved one accomplish daily tasks, prevent illness, and focus on living a healthier and more fulfilling life.
2. Seeds and Nuts
The healthy fats in walnuts, almonds, sesame, and flax seeds help the body absorb fat-soluble vitamins properly. Most nuts and seeds contain a lot of vitamin E, which is necessary for speeding up wound healing and reducing scars.
3. Fresh Vegetables
Vegetables are a great way to get all the vitamins and minerals needed for post-surgery healing. Most vegetables also contain high amounts of fiber, which can alleviate the digestive issues caused by pain medications.
4. Yogurt
Yogurt is great for seniors to eat after a surgery because it contains a lot of live probiotics. These helpful bacteria restore the body’s natural bacterial imbalance after managing antibiotics and potential infections from a surgery.
Caring for a senior loved one who is recovering from a surgery can be a difficult task. Families who find it difficult to care for their aging loved ones without assistance can benefit greatly from professional respite care. Oshkosh, Wisconsin, family caregivers who need a break from their caregiving duties can turn to Senior Stride Home Care. Using our proprietary Balanced Care Method, our respite caregivers can encourage your loved one to eat well, exercise regularly, get plenty of mental and social stimulation, and focus on other lifestyle factors that promote longevity.
5. Berries
Berries are a great source of vitamin C and other antioxidants that reduce inflammation following a surgery. Vitamin C is particularly helpful because it rebuilds the collagen in skin.
6. Water
It might not technically be a food, but water is essential to surgery recovery. Dehydration can make healing take much longer. If your loved one does not like plain water, try including some fruit juice or herbal tea.
7. Eggs
Eggs have a soft texture that is ideal for seniors after surgery. They are also loaded with a lot of nutrients. A single egg contains protein, vitamins A, B, E, and K, calcium, zinc, iron, and many other nutrients needed for recovery.
8. Leafy Green Vegetables
Leafy greens are some of the most important types of vegetables to eat after a surgery. Mustard greens, kale, spinach, and Swiss chard are all great sources of vitamin K and iron.
9. Plant-Based Oils
The body needs a lot of fat to absorb vitamin K and other essential post-surgery nutrients, but saturated fats can lead to clotting and high blood pressure. Get healthier monounsaturated fats from coconut oil, olive oil, or avocado oil.
10. Whole Grains
In addition to providing plenty of fiber, whole grains are also important because they are a healthy source of carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are vital after a surgery because they give the body the energy it needs to heal.
Older adults who need help maintaining their health while recuperating from surgery should consider professional in-home care. Find out how an Oshkosh, Wisconsin, caregiver can help your senior loved one enjoy a higher quality of life by reaching out to Senior Stride Home Care. All of our professional respite and live-in caregivers are trained in comprehensive Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s, and stroke care, and they can also assist seniors with basic daily tasks like exercise, cooking, bathing, and light housekeeping. To learn about our high-quality in-home care services, give us a call at 920-717-1767 today.