After the knee replacement surgery, your first priority is to heal properly and get back to all your normal activities as soon as possible. Proper attention to your diet after your surgery can help you heal and recover faster. But eating the wrong foods can sometimes trigger some complications.
Here are a few tips about the diet you can follow after your knee replacement surgery
Reassess your normal diet
If you want to improve your nutritional status, you must focus on whole foods. Choose foods that are not processed. Make sure that you take a lot of fluids too.
Include fresh fruits and vegetables in your daily diet
As you slowly recover from your surgery, you should consider adding high-fiber foods to your diet. High-fiber food is good for preventing constipation, especially when combined with water. You can include whole-grain bread, oatmeal, and corn in your diet. Fresh fruits and vegetables are also excellent sources of fiber and water.
Include fiber in your diet
As you slowly recover from your surgery, you should consider adding high-fiber foods to your diet. High fiber food is good to prevent constipation, especially when combined with water. You can include whole-grain bread, oatmeal, and corn in your diet. Fresh fruits and vegetables are also excellent sources of water.
Foods with the Right Nutrients
Calcium & Vitamin D
Calcium is an important factor considered for good recovery from any surgery that involves bones. As the most common mineral in the human body, about 99 percent of the calcium in the body is found in bones and teeth. In addition to bones, our muscles, heart, and nerves also require a good amount of calcium to ensure proper functioning. You can find calcium in dairy products like milk with no fat or less fat, yogurt, and cheese. Legumes, tofu, and fortified food like seeds also have a good amount of calcium.
Try spending at least 15-20 minutes a day outdoors in the daytime so that your body can absorb vitamin D from the sun. Spending some time in the sun also helps absorb calcium from the food.
Vitamin C
This Vitamin is an essential nutrient that helps form collagen present in the ligaments and tendons that connect the muscles and bones. Many foods contain Vitamin C, including citrus fruits such as oranges, lemon, kiwi, and vegetables like capsicum, cauliflower, and Brussel sprouts.
High-quality proteins
Protein is essential in your diet as they provide building blocks that help the body repair it and help boost the body’s immunity. Poultry, eggs, fish, and meat are sources of high-quality protein.
Zinc
Zinc is another important nutrient that helps in healing after surgery as it assists in the production of protein. It also helps in keeping the immune system in good shape. Foods that are rich in zinc are also good sources of protein including fish, nuts, beans, and poultry.
Anti-Inflammatory Diet
Inflammation can help your body fight illness and protect it from harm. It is also necessary as part of the healing process. Foods such as turmeric, fish oil supplements, and ginger help with joint stiffness following your knee surgery. An anti-inflammatory diet includes fresh fruits and vegetables, foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids, lean protein, whole grains, healthful fats, and spices. There are many plant-based foods that are good sources of antioxidants.
Conclusion
Eating nourishing and healthy food after knee replacement surgery can help your body recover and let the wound heal properly. You can have a balanced diet with whole foods with plenty of fiber, whole grains, lean protein, and fresh fruits and vegetables.
However, it is essential to consult your doctor regarding the proper diet you need to follow after knee replacement surgery. To know more details about your diet, book an appointment with Dr. Suhas, one of the leading orthopedic knee replacement surgeons in Hyderabad.
Dr. A.B. Suhas Masilamani is a Consultant Robotic Joint Replacement Surgeon and Program Director of Sunshine OrthRobotics at Sunshine Hospitals, Hyderabad. He is one of the best orthopedic surgeons trained in New York, USA, and obtained fellowships in adult hip and knee replacement and robotic surgery. He is also one of the few certified trainers in India for Robotic Joint Replacement.
Dr. Suhas practices all the modern techniques in Orthopedics, like robotic joint replacement, minimally invasive techniques for total knee and total hip replacement, Unicondylar knee replacement, and patella-femoral replacement. He is one of the very few surgeons from the city to become a member of the American Academy of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS). He is also a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and the International Congress for Joint Replacement (ICJR).