5 Powerhouse Foods That Will Help You Heal After a Tummy Tuck

by Suzanne Kvilhaug

Right after abdominoplasty, better known as a tummy tuck, people experience mixed emotions. They’re undoubtedly feeling new and improved yet they know the healing process isn’t going to happen overnight. The process can be uncomfortable and include a lot of highs and lows. Besides needing ample amounts of rest, what you put into your body can make a big difference when it comes to healing. Choosing the right foods during this time is essential in order to help the recovery process go quicker and smoother. It’s obvious that avoiding unhealthy things like processed foods, fried foods and fatty foods is necessary but what certain foods should you eat? Here are 5 nutritional powerhouses to add to your post-surgery grocery list.

Pineapples

Due to their impressive therapeutic benefits, make sure to consume pineapples! Fresh pineapple contains bromelain, a protein-digesting enzyme known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Bromelain has shown in research to help enhance wound healing and may reduce swelling, bruising, healing time, and pain. Pineapples can help decrease bloating if you experience “swelly belly”, the swelling of the abdominal area being swollen after a tummy tuck procedure. 

How to include into your diet: Snacks, dinner recipes, smoothies 

Tempeh 

Consuming enough protein during the weeks following the procedure is key to the entire recovery process. Protein builds and repairs muscles, tissues and skin, all which have been damaged during the process. Tempeh is a plant-based protein made from soybeans that is packed with antioxidants and probiotics. Versatile and easy to cook, tempeh absorbs the flavor of ingredients around it well and can be made in many different dishes. 

How to include in your diet: Salads, tacos, stir fry, marinated tempeh, veggie burgers

Ginger root

Ginger is a must-have and is made for times like this. Not only is it an age-old remedy known to treat nausea and vomiting that can be common post-surgery, it can help aid digestive issues. 

How to include in your diet: Ginger tea, homemade ginger ale, soups, smoothies

Oats

Think zinc! Oats are a super smart addition to your diet because they’re packed with nutrients, specifically zinc. Zinc helps in the production of about 100 types of enzymes in our body and promotes the synthesis of collagen, which is a necessary element in wound healing.

How to include in your diet: Oatmeal, overnight oats, oat flour recipes

Vitamin C Fruit Smoothie

Load up on your favorite fruits that contain high amounts of vitamin C and blend them into a delicious smoothie! Strawberries, oranges, lemons, cherries, kiwis, mangoes, papayas and blackberries all are considered fruits with a high vitamin C content. Increasing your vitamin C intake after surgery is crucial as it helps rebuild collagen, softens tissue and heals wounds. 

Remember, patience is a virtue when it comes to recovery! By remaining optimistic throughout the process, following doctor’s orders and selecting the right foods- celebrating and showing off the new you will be well worth the wait.

Suzanne Kvilhaug holds a Certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from Cornell University. She is a writer and brand consultant for health, wellness, and natural product companies.

This sponsored article provides general information and discussions about health and related subjects. The information and other content provided in this article, or in any linked materials, are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice, nor is the information a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment. If you or any other person has a medical concern, you should consult with your health care provider or seek other professional medical treatment.

Sources: 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6397736/

https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Zinc-HealthProfessional/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3900114/

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Click here if you want to check out our Before/After Tummy tuck scar photos

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