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How to stay healthy after undergoing surgery?

If you have recently undergone major surgery, then you may be worrying about how your general health may deteriorate during your recovery period. Recovering from surgery usually involves a lot of sitting and doing nothing, and as a result, bad habits begin to surface when it comes to eating and exercising.

Here are a few ideas to help you stay healthy during your recovery.

If you believe you were affected by medical negligence during your surgery, then visit the Medical Malpractice website to find out more about legal help, as you may be entitled to make a claim.

Focus on eating small meals regularly

One of the main traps that people fall into when recovering from surgery is adopting a poor diet and not eating regularly. Many people recovering will turn to sandwiches and other junk food due to convenience; however adequate nutrition is required to aid the healing process, not to mention to assist any medication that you are taking.

Instead of having 3 large meals a day, aim to have 5 smaller meals, as having 3 large meals can lead to weight gain as you aren’t moving around a lot. Whilst these big meals may feel comforting at the time, over the weeks of your recovery they will begin to take a toll on your body.

Ensure you are eating plenty of fruit and vegetables

Studies regularly demonstrate the effectiveness of eating a wide range of fruits and vegetables, and whilst “5 a day” has often been the target, studies have shown that we should really be aiming for 10 or more per day.

Soups and smoothies can be a good way to take in a lot of nutrients, vitamins and minerals without having to stand slaving over a hot pot for hours. You can quite quickly rack up 5 portions of fruit or vegetable in one sitting without thinking too much of it. Not only will this high intake aid your recovery, but it will also help you keep the weight off during a time where you are unable to properly exercise.

Ensure you are taking on enough water

Not enough of us are drinking the right amount of water per day. Whilst there are many differing opinions about what this amount should be, the general consensus is that it should be somewhere in the region of 2 litres per day.

When at home recovering, it’s easy to fall into the habit of relying on coffee, tea or sugary drinks to keep you going, but it is really important to also ensure you are drinking enough water on its own. Not only will this ensure that your body is well hydrated, but water also makes you feel more satisfied without having to eat more food.

To keep on top of how much you are drinking, fill a 2 litre bottle or jug with water daily and keep it in your refrigerator, ensuring that the vessel is completely empty before you go to sleep at night. Try not to just binge the full amount in one sitting, and rather space out glasses of water throughout the day (8 glasses is a good number).