Elevate Your Recovery.

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that is needed for many stages of healing and wound repair.  It is essential for the maintenance and repair of epithelial tissues, which are the cells that line the surface of your skin, organs, and blood vessels. After surgery, Vitamin A is crucial for repairing the skin barrier, supporting collagen synthesis, supporting the immune response and regulating inflammation.  Foods rich in Vitamin A include eggs, fish, dairy, carrots, sweet potatoes and dark leafy greens.

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is renowned for its antioxidant properties. It’s essential for a range of functions, including collagen synthesis, enhancing the immune response and protecting cells from oxidative stress and inflammation.  After surgery, Vitamin C is critical for wound healing, reducing inflammation and preventing infections.  Foods rich in Vitamin C include citrus fruits, strawberries and peppers.

Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin that can be made by the body when exposed to sunlight. Vitamin D is crucial for bone health and repair, supporting the immune response and improving muscle function and strength. After surgery, Vitamin D promotes bone healing, prevents infections and regulates inflammation.  Foods rich in Vitamin D include fatty fish, dairy, eggs and mushrooms.

Zinc is a trace mineral found in every cell of the body. It is essential for numerous functions including aiding enzymes, maintaining the immune system and supporting protein synthesis. After surgery, zinc is crucial for tissue repair, preventing infection and regulating inflammation. Foods rich in zinc include oysters, seeds, dairy and oats.

Curcumin is a bright yellow compound found in turmeric, a spice commonly used in Indian and Southeast Asian cuisine. Turmeric has been used for centuries in traditional medicine. Curcumin is recognized for its powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. After surgery, curcumin helps regulate inflammation, decrease oxidative stress, alleviate pain and prevent infections.

Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that provide health benefits.  They are often referred to as “good” bacteria because they help balance the microbiome, the community of microorganisms living throughout your body.  Probiotics are known for supporting digestive health, strengthening the immune system and reducing inflammation. After surgery, probiotics can reduce the risk of infection, repair imbalances in the microbiome caused by antibiotics, anesthesia, and stress and prevent antibiotic associated diarrhea. Common sources of probiotics include fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and supplements.

B vitamins are a group of eight essential nutrients that work together to support energy production, red blood cell formation, nerve function, and DNA synthesis. Each vitamin in the B-complex has a specific role in the body. Due to the many roles of B vitamins in the body, they are critical after surgery to support recovery. After surgery, B vitamins can aid in collagen formation, cell and nerve regeneration, tissue repair, improve energy and reduce inflammation.

Helps convert food into energy and supports nerve function. Foods rich in B1 include whole grains, pork and nuts.

Involved in energy production and metabolism. Foods rich in B2 include dairy, eggs and almonds.

Helps convert food into energy and supports nerve function. Foods rich in B3 include chicken, tuna and whole grains.

Essential for synthesizing coenzyme A, which is critical for fatty acid metabolism and energy production. Foods rich in B5 include avocados, liver and mushrooms.

Important for protein metabolism, red blood cell production, and immune function. Foods rich in B6 include bananas, salmon and potatoes.

Crucial for DNA synthesis and cell division, particularly in wound healing. Foods rich in B9 include leafy greens, broccoli and lentils.

Involved in red blood cell formation, nerve function, and DNA synthesis. Foods rich in B12 include fish, red meat and dairy.

Selenium is an essential mineral found in small amounts in the soil, water, and certain foods. It is vital for various processes in the body, especially for maintaining immune function and regulating inflammation. After surgery, selenium can prevent infections, regulate inflammation, aid in collagen production and support thyroid function. Foods rich in selenium include brazil nuts, fish, dairy and brown rice.

Arginine, also known as L-arginine, is a conditionally essential amino acid, meaning that while the body can produce it under normal circumstances, its demand increases during times of stress, such as after surgery. Arginine plays a key role in various functions, including protein synthesis, nitric oxide production, immune response and wound healing. After surgery, arginine is critical for wound healing, improving circulation, preventing infection, reducing muscle loss and supporting metabolic health. Foods rich in arginine include turkey and chicken breast, seeds, nuts and dairy products.

Glutamine is a conditionally essential amino acid, meaning that while the body can produce it under normal circumstances, its demand increases during times of stress, such as after surgery. It is one of the most abundant amino acids in the body and it plays a role in various bodily functions including supporting the immune system, promoting tissue regeneration and healing, maintaining gut health and producing antioxidants. After surgery, glutamine can improve wound healing, prevent infections, heal the gut, prevent muscle loss and promote recovery and balance inflammation. Foods rich in glutamine include meat, tofu, lentils and cabbage.

Iron is an essential mineral that helps produce hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen. After surgery, zinc can help with the body’s increased demand for oxygen as it works to rebuild tissues, replenish blood loss, fight infection, and reduce fatigue. Foods rich in iron include red meat, liver, leafy green vegetables and dark chocolate.

Magnesium is a critical mineral involved in over 300 biochemical reactions in the body. It is necessary for a wide range of functions, including muscle and nerve function, energy production, bone health, regulating blood pressure and managing inflammation. After surgery, magnesium can reduce muscle tension and spasms, manage inflammation, prevent infection, reduce pain, improve sleep, prevent constipation and support bony healing and tissue repair. Foods rich in magnesium include nuts and seeds, leafy greens and legumes.

Copper is a trace mineral that the body needs in small amounts for various functions. Despite its small required quantity, copper plays a big role in maintaining health, including aiding in tissue repair, reducing oxidative stress and preventing infections. After surgery, copper can improve collagen production, support the immune system and reduce oxidative stress. Foods rich in copper include oysters, liver, nuts and seeds.

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body, with about 99% of it stored in the bones and teeth. The remaining 1% is present in the blood, muscles, and other tissues, where it plays essential roles in bone repair, muscle function, nerve signaling, blood clotting and enzyme function. After surgery, calcium enhances bone healing, supports muscle function and decreases spasms, aids in blood clotting, decreases pain and improves healing. Foods rich in calcium include dairy products, leafy green vegetables and sardines with bones.

Manganese is a trace mineral, meaning the body requires it in small amounts. Despite its relatively low presence in the body, manganese is involved in several important biochemical processes, such as the formation of collagen and bone, regulation of inflammation, and metabolism. After surgery, manganese can help with collagen production, bone repair, inflammation, energy metabolism and wound healing. Foods rich in manganese include nuts and seeds, whole grains and leafy vegetables.

Chromium is a trace mineral that the body needs in small amounts. Its primary function is to enhance the action of insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. Other functions include regulating metabolism and supporting muscle repair. After surgery, chromium helps to regulate blood sugar, improve tissue repair, reduce inflammation and support immune function. Foods rich in chromium include broccoli, whole grains and potatoes.

Potassium is an electrolyte that helps regulate fluid balance, blood pressure, muscle contractions, and nerve signals. After surgery, potassium can help maintain fluid balance, prevent muscle cramps and weakness, reduce pain, promote blood pressure control and aid in wound healing. Foods rich in potassium include bananas, sweet potatoes and dairy.