Active recovery after surgery requires the intake of foods that promote healing of wounds. A significant danger to watch for is any process that would worsen the wounds by causing the rupture of cells. Unwatched oxidation processes around the operated areas can cause delayed healing, and therefore care must be taken to promote their healing. Taking the right food is fundamental to this process, and antioxidant foods are therefore necessary.
Foods to increase the activity of the antioxidant enzyme systems
Food rich in Carotenoids such as sweet potato baked with skin, frozen or cooked kale and spinach, raw carrots, fresh cantaloupe, raw spinach, cooked broccoli (Malinda & Monroe, 2014).
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Food rich in manganese, copper, zinc, and iron (Thompson & Monroe, 2014).
Foods rich in selenium such as cooked chicken giblets, cooked yellow fin tuna, broiled pork loin chon, cooked couscous, oil, and roasted mixed nuts, cooked whole wheat, and spaghetti, roasted turkey or dark meat, cheese, part-skim milk and ricotta (Thompson & Monroe, 2014).
Rationale
Oxidation process results from the loss of one or more electron by an atom and the formation of a radical by another atom, or a molecule (Thompson & Monroe, 2014). Radicals are the most dangerous results of the oxidation reaction. While the atoms losing the electron are said to be oxidized, the ones that gain electrons becomes reduced.
The radicals have dangerous impacts on the DNA, cell membrane, and the low-density-lipoprotein. The cell membrane consists of water-insoluble lipids that keep the cells from absorbing excess water and bursting (Thompson & Monroe, 2014). If such an event were allowed to occur, the body would lose cells and result in death. The DNA codes for the formation of proteins while the low-density-lipoprotein regulates the transfer of substances across the cell membrane. These three components' functionalities are based on the integrity of their structure. Free radicals compromise their integrity resulting in damages to the cell structure and loss of functionality. The mentioned classes of food and their examples are antioxidants. Intake in the right quantities promotes rapid healing by preventing oxidation that causes rupture of tissues and damages to the cell membrane in the operated areas.
Reference
Thompson, J. & Manroe, M. (2014). Nutrition: An Applied Approach . Pearson
