Going through surgery is a big deal. You’re trusting your doctor and risking a long recovery process. The experience can be overwhelming for your body and soul, but there are ways to mend that connection afterward. Once you know what the best food to eat after surgery is and how to shape your dietary habits, your mind and body might recover more easily.
What Is Mindful Eating?
Mindful eating is the practice of being present throughout each meal or snack. Your mind and bodily senses remain focused on the food you’re enjoying. The process can also start before you eat. Curating a well-rounded diet can nourish your body and soul if you use it to reach health goals, like losing weight after surgery or healing within a specific time frame.
Why Your Diet Matters After Surgery
When people come out of a surgery, their dietary choices support their recovery. They can also get more in touch with their spiritual wellness with the right focus.
Nutrients Support Your Immune System
Operations can cause inflammation that weakens your immune system because they’re stressful procedures. If you get sick from a virus while you’re healing, it could complicate your recovery. Those practicing mindful eating often research the complete nutrient profile of each meal as self-care and recovery support.
Comfort and Nourishment Are Both Crucial
Healthy, filling foods fuel your body and demonstrate self-compassion. You’re comforting your soul during recovery with mindful food choices that balance your body’s needs and things that bring you joy. Self-love goes a long way in nourishing your soul.
You Could Achieve Your Doctor’s Recommendations Faster
Doctors almost always have recovery goals for post-operative patients. Your diet could help you reach those milestones. You might get on your feet faster if you feel energized from your diet and spiritually encouraged along the way.
Your diet will also be important if your surgery isn’t as successful as intended. Failed gastric bypass surgeries cause symptoms like regaining weight that was important to lose. Mindful eating could help you achieve your doctor’s recommended weight goal more successfully. You’ll also develop nutrition-backed, consistent dietary habits that support your healing, metabolism and self-confidence.
What Is the Best Food to Eat After Surgery?
The best food to eat after surgery is anything packed with nutrients that matches your doctor’s recommendations. One food won’t jump-start your healing, so think of the big picture with your diet. You’ll recover better and reduce post-op complication odds if you eat foods with diverse nutrient profiles.
How to Connect Your Body and Soul Through Dietary Choices
Experience full-body healing while soothing your soul with mindful eating practices. Your post-surgery recovery could go even smoother with a few new kitchen habits.
1. Take Your Time With Each Bite
Your saliva is the first component of your digestive system. Give it time to break down your food by chewing slowly. Experts recommend spending 20-30 chews on each bite, but you can stretch those moments longer if preferred.
Reconnect with your spirit while considering the food’s texture, flavor and nutritional benefits. Let yourself feel at ease so the food nourishes your body and soul.
2. Make Meals in Batches
Depression can occur after surgery for numerous reasons. People sometimes deal with it due to their pain, while others feel isolated at home. You might even feel depressed if you’re frustrated with your body during required physical therapy sessions. Meal prepping might help.
The mindful eating practice will fill your fridge with nutritious meals and give you more free time. Use tofu and beans as great sources of protein or smoothie packs for snacks. You can use the extra time to socialize with loved ones or soothe your soul with comforting self-care activities like journaling.
3. Drink Lots of Water
Your soul is a spiritual part of you, but dehydration can cause mental performance lapses that keep you from feeling connected. Your body also needs hydration to support the white cells mending it after surgery.
Drink lots of water to connect your body and soul during recovery. You could add fruit slices to introduce new flavors or decorate a water bottle with stickers to make the practice fun.
4. Enjoy Extra Probiotics
Probiotics are healthy bacteria for your gut. They’re great for digestive processes and benefit your brain by supporting its overall functionality via the digestive tract, nervous system, and more.
You may connect with your spirit more easily if your brain gets proper fuel. Comforting spiritual practices could resonate more during recovery if you practice mindful eating habits.
5. Indulge in Place Settings
Recovering can make you feel less like yourself. You might not be able to move as well after an appendectomy or cesarean section. Feeling disconnected from your sense of self can also shatter your spiritual practices. Using mindfully chosen dinnerware could help.
Find aesthetically matching plates, silverware and glassware for meals if you love designing. You might create a centerpiece every week to indulge your inner host. Merge the passions that fuel your soul with habits that uphold your post-surgery diet to reconnect your spirit while tending to your body’s needs.
6. Opt for Whole Foods
Whole foods retain their essential nutrients because they don’t undergo processing. Other ingredients could experience bleaching, boiling or manufacturing methods that extract their nutrients. Those products might be delicious, but they aren’t as healthy as whole food alternatives.
You don’t need full mobility to enjoy fresh foods while recovering, either. Get canned or frozen vegetables that are ready to eat. You could add them to slow-cooked stews, salads, wraps or casseroles that require minimal steps.
Use your dietary choices to nourish your soul, too. Invite your friends over if they’re willing to peel and chop your groceries. You’ll catch up, laugh together and feel the community support that brings life back to the soul during trying times.
Start Your Healing Journey
Mindful eating practices are excellent resources after surgery. Consider which health goals your doctor wants you to reach and create dietary habits that will help you get there. Eating whole foods, drinking water and mindfully chewing every bite will merge your soul with your physical care.
This is a collaborative post supporting our Peace In Peace Out initiative.