Changing Your Diet After Undergoing Heart Surgery

Heart health is extremely important when considering the overall health of your body. Your diet can impact your heart health in a powerful way, especially if you have already undergone heart surgery. A healthy diet will not only benefit you in the future, but it will also help you heal after surgery is complete.

You may find that shortly after surgery your appetite is poor. This is a common occurrence and to compensate for this, you will want to try and eat smaller meals more frequently to ensure you are getting the necessary nutrients. It is likely that your appetite will return within the first few weeks. If this is not the case, speak with your doctor.

Throughout the healing process, your body needs to take in more calories, protein, Vitamin C, and Vitamin A than it would in a normal diet. If you are craving foods that are not healthy options, try to find a way to replace them with something that is more nutritious. For some patients, taste change is a side effect of the surgery. Try things in small amounts to see whether it is something you still enjoy and adjust your diet based on this.

If you find yourself struggling to change your diet due to lack of appetite or taste changes, you can always use a nutritional drink or supplement. These come in a variety of flavors so you can find one that works for you. You’ll get the right amount of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients easily. Another easy option is incorporating a multivitamin into your daily regimen.

Adjusting your diet after heart surgery doesn’t have to mean eliminating all of the foods you love. Focus on getting the right nutrition in your meals and you will be thrilled with the results.