The wound healing process is affected by a variety of factors, including the type of wound, its depth, and your daily nutritional intake. If you have an injury or a post-surgery wound, read the article below for a list of foods that can aid in the healing process.

Foods that promote wound healing

When you have a wound, whether it's from an injury or surgery, your body requires extra energy to help it heal faster. One of the nutrients required is collagen, a type of protein in the body that aids in the formation of tissues, bones, muscles, and skin.

During wound healing, the body replaces damaged tissue with new, healthy tissue. This process necessitates the consumption of calories, protein, and nutrients to accelerate the healing process. By meeting your nutritional needs, the wound will heal faster and you will be able to resume your normal activities.

Some foods that are recommended to accelerate the wound healing process include:

Protein

Protein is important for wound healing. Protein-rich foods are necessary for the formation of new tissue. A lack of protein can inhibit collagen formation, causing the wound healing process to take longer. Here are some protein-rich foods that can help with wound healing:

• Chicken
• Beef
• Eggs
• Fish
• Lentils, chickpeas
• Nuts and seeds
• Tofu
• Cheese
• Yoghurt
• Milk or soy milk

You can also get protein from processed foods or drinks like almond milk, protein milk, biscuits with cheese toppings, or by mixing nuts into vegetable and egg salads.

Magnesium

Magnesium is a mineral that promotes tissue repair and reduces swelling. You can meet your magnesium requirements by eating the following foods:

• Avocado
• Almonds
• Cashew nuts
• Green leafy vegetables (such as kale, spinach, and mustard greens)
• Bananas
• Tofu
• Whole grains (such as oats and brown rice)

Zinc

Zinc regulates every phase of the wound healing process, including membrane repair, oxidative stress, coagulation, inflammation, immune defense, tissue re-epithelialization, new blood vessel formation (angiogenesis), and scar formation (fibrosis).

Here are some zinc-rich foods that promote wound healing:

• Fish and seafood
• Beef and chicken
• Yoghurt
• Eggs
• Spinach
• Nuts and seeds
• Whole grains (such as oats and quinoa)

Vitamin A

Vitamin A aids in wound healing by stimulating epidermal turnover, speeding up re-epithelialization, and restoring epithelial structure. Vitamin-A-rich foods include the following:

• Sweet potatoes
• Green vegetables such as spinach and mustard greens
• Carrots
• Eggs
• Red bell pepper
• Mango
• Melon
• Watermelon
• Avocado
• Tomatoes

In addition to meeting your nutritional needs, your daily routine can aid in wound healing. When you have a wound, especially after surgery, you require adequate rest to aid in the healing process. Avoid strenuous activities and get enough sleep to help the wound heal faster.

Aside from eating well, you should also keep your body hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids or eat fruits rich in fluids. You should also avoid smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages because they can interfere with wound healing.

In wound care, including wounds after surgery, the doctor will advise you on proper wound care, including foods and drinks that can aid healing. If you need medical advice or consultation, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.

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