Supplements and Nutritional Drinks To Heal Faster After Surgery

Curious about how fast you’ll heal after surgery?

Well, that depends on how big of a surgical procedure you’re undergoing and how well you take care of yourself afterwards.

Your body begins the healing process as soon as an incision (or open wound) is made. There is a process with different stages involved in healing that your body must follow to repair itself. 

But your body can only heal if you give it the right tools to do so. Proper rest and proper wound site care (cleaning, changing bandages, etc.) make the healing process go much more smoothly. Meanwhile, nutrition impacts how well your body can repair itself during different stages of wound healing. 

Read below for how nutrition affects the stages of wound healing and how you can ensure you’re getting the right nutrients through supplements or nutritional drinks to speed up post-surgical recovery.

The 4 Stages of Healing

Wound healing is done in 4 stages: Hemostasis phase, inflammatory phase, proliferation phase, and the maturation phase. Each phase is an important process on the road to recovery and involves different bodily processes. 

1. Hemostasis Phase

The hemostasis phase begins as soon as an open wound has occurred. It’s responsible for clotting blood to prevent a wound from bleeding out. It does this by restricting blood vessels near the wound site to restrict blood flow.

2. Inflammatory Phase

Next, the inflammatory phase begins. Inflammation causes swelling at the wound site which helps control bleeding and prevent infection. During this phase, harmful debris, pathogens, and bacteria are removed from the wound. 

3. Proliferation Phase

In the proliferative phase, the wound begins to rebuild new skin cells and tissues. It uses collagen to reform skin cells and connective tissue.

4. Maturation Phase

Finally, in the maturation phase, the wound is remodeled and becomes fully healed. This is when scar tissue is formed to properly seal up a wound.

How to speed up wound recovery through nutrition

In general, the wound healing process can take up to 21 days to reach maturation which may then last for a year or more. The process is made longer or shorter depending on what steps you take to properly care for your wound and your body. Nutrition plays a key role in how quickly you will recover post-surgery. 

Your body needs calories and the right nutrients to support the wound healing at every phase. Each phase of wound healing requires specific nutrients for your cells to do their repair work. If they are not given an adequate supply, it takes them longer to do their work. Meaning, it takes you longer to heal. 

Supplements like Juven and WoundVite may be recommended by your doctor or surgeon to ensure you are getting the right amount of nutrients for wound healing.* Juven is a nutritional supplement drink formulated with ingredients that aid in wound care recovery. It’s backed by clinical studies that have shown improvement in wound healing in as little as two weeks. 

WoundVite is an all-natural capsule supplement formulated by a team of physicians and pharmacists. It contains a blend of 21 vitamins, minerals, and herbs which have been clinically researched for their effectiveness in supporting wound healing.* Each ingredient was chosen for their specific role in each phase of wound healing.*

WoundVite is an alternative to sugary supplement drinks for people who can’t stomach Juven or are sensitive to the drink’s added ingredients.

And, WoundVite contains more potent ingredients than Juven, such as:

Arginine and Glutamine

Both arginine and glutamine are essential amino acids your body needs to produce protein, stimulate cell growth, promote collagen production, strengthen the immune system and increase blood flow. These amino acids are essential for the repair process during wound healing.

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 can be found in foods like red meat and dark leafy greens. It’s responsible for creating red blood cells and hemoglobin. Both of which are necessary for transferring oxygen and nutrients to the wound site.

Zinc

Zinc strengthens the immune system to prevent wounds from becoming infected. It also aids in DNA and protein synthesis.

Vitamins C and E

Both vitamins function as antioxidants that fight free radicals and manage skin cell damage. They also help to strengthen collagen and stabilize cells.

Bromelain and Calendula

Bromelain is an enzyme derived from pineapples while calendula is an herb native to the Mediterranean. Both natural ingredients are used in wound healing as an anti-inflammatory to reduce swelling, bruising, and pain after surgery or injuries.

Supplements and nutritional drinks to heal faster after surgery: Bottom Line

If you’re nervous about your recovery post-surgery, ensure you follow a proper wound care recovery routine. Follow all instructions given to you by your doctor or surgeon. Get plenty of rest and pay close attention to your nutrition.

Vitamin supplements like WoundVite and Juven will provide you with the right blend of nutrients most effective for wound healing.* Consider supplementing your diet to achieve optimal nutrition and faster recovery time.*

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.