Our bodies do a great job of healing themselves after the trauma of surgery, but this process is a little easier if we help it along by ensuring that our body has access to a range of key nutrients. Eating a healthy diet can make it easier for our bodies to have access to nutrients that aid in critical functions, but which nutrients should we be striving for in our diet? In today’s blog, we take a look at three key nutrients that can make a big difference in your recovery after total knee replacement.
Important Nutrients After Knee Replacement
It’s important to consume a healthy diet at all times, but that’s especially true in the wake of a total knee replacement procedure. Here’s a look at three nutrients you’ll want to get plenty of as you work to prepare for and recover after your total knee replacement procedure:
- Calcium – Calcium helps the cells in our body function properly and is necessary for strong bones. When your body doesn’t have access to enough calcium from your diet, it starts to pull calcium from your bones, meaning they become weaker and more brittle. If too much calcium is pulled from your bones, you can develop osteopenia or osteoporosis. And while neither of these conditions will keep you from being able to pursue a knee replacement procedure, your surgeon may need to use longer connector components or more bone cement in order to ensure stability to the bone. Calcium is also very important in helping to reduce your need for a revision procedure, which we’ll touch on in the next section.
- Vitamin D – Vitamin D is another essential nutrient leading up to and after your knee replacement procedure. Vitamin D plays an important role in the absorption of other nutrients in the small intestine, including calcium. If you don’t get enough vitamin D, your body may not be able to absorb enough calcium, even if you are consuming the recommended amount each day. Vitamin D deficiency can also lead to osteoporosis if you’re not careful.
- Iron – Finally, make sure that you are getting enough iron in your diet before and after your knee replacement procedure. Foods like nuts, seafood, spinach and pomegranate are rich in iron, which is a major component of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that helps to carry oxygen to different areas of your body, including your knees. Iron helps to ensure that the soft tissues in the area that were necessarily damaged during the surgical procedure can heal quickly and fully.
If you want assistance developing a diet that will help spur recovery after your knee replacement procedure, or you have questions about knee replacement, connect with Dr. Botero and his team today at (865) 558-4444.
