Chinese people have a dietary habit of "nourishing the body with things that resemble it," so when a fracture occurs, the first thing that comes to mind is to drink bone soup to supplement calcium and promote bone growth. This is not actually the case. What should a fracture patient eat to recover faster?
What should a fracture patient eat to recover faster?
Except for possibly mild systemic symptoms in the initial days after a fracture, patients generally do not experience systemic symptoms. Therefore, their daily diet can be similar to that of a healthy person, focusing on a varied and nutrient-rich diet. However, attention should be paid to making food easy to digest and absorb, and spicy foods that irritate the respiratory and digestive tracts (such as chili, raw onions, mustard, and pepper) should be used with caution. When systemic symptoms are evident, a so-called soft diet, between a normal diet and a semi-liquid diet, should be provided. The food must contain less residue to facilitate chewing and digestion. During cooking, it should be chopped and cooked soft, and should not be stir-fried or deep-fried.
To help fracture patients better manage their nutritional diet and speed up recovery, here is a recommended diet plan:
Early Stage (1-2 weeks post-surgery)
The injured area is bruised and swollen, with obstructed meridians and stagnant qi and blood. The treatment during this phase focuses on activating blood circulation to resolve stasis and promoting qi circulation to reduce swelling. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that "if stasis is not removed, new bone cannot form" and "once stasis is removed, new bone will grow." This shows that reducing swelling and dispersing stasis is the primary goal for fracture healing. It is advisable to avoid sour, spicy, dry, and greasy foods. In particular, one should not consume rich and nourishing foods too early, such as bone soup, fatty chicken, or stewed soft-shelled turtle. Otherwise, the stagnant blood will be difficult to disperse, which will prolong the course of the illness, delay callus formation, and affect the future recovery of joint function.
Middle Stage (2-4 weeks post-surgery)
Most of the swelling and bruising has been absorbed. The treatment during this phase focuses on harmonizing the nutritive qi to relieve pain, removing stasis to generate new tissue, and reconnecting bones and tendons. The diet can begin to include some bone-nourishing foods, but it is best to avoid spicy foods.
Later Stage (5 weeks post-surgery and beyond)
The swelling and bruising at the fracture site have basically subsided, and callus formation has begun. This is the later stage of the fracture. The treatment should focus on tonification, specifically nourishing the liver and kidneys, and qi and blood, to promote the formation of stronger callus. It also aims to relax the muscles and activate the collaterals, allowing the joints near the fracture to move freely and flexibly, restoring their previous function. Dietary restrictions can be lifted at this stage.
In addition to the diet plan, here are some dietary principles for fracture patients. Many people have misunderstandings about treating fractures, believing that since a fracture is a problem with the bone, simply drinking calcium-rich bone soup is sufficient. This is not the case. Bone growth requires collagen, calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin C, so it is important to focus on supplementing these substances:
1. High-energy, high-protein diet: This helps restore strength. However, it is advisable to start this diet 2 weeks after the fracture. In the initial stage of the fracture, a light diet is more appropriate.
2. Vitamin D: If a fracture patient is resting indoors and not exposed to sunlight, they are prone to vitamin D deficiency. Therefore, after a fracture, one should eat more foods rich in vitamin D (such as fish, liver, egg yolks, etc.) and get as much sun exposure as possible.
3. Vitamin C: Fruits rich in vitamin C include hawthorn, fresh dates, kiwi, strawberries, longan, lychee, and citrus. Vegetables include alfalfa, chili, sweet pepper, rape stalks, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, bitter gourd, watercress, broccoli, and green amaranth.
4. Water: After a fracture, prolonged immobility can easily lead to constipation. At this time, one should drink more water to ensure intestinal smoothness.