Energy: If your intake of energy is less than your requirements the management of wounds could be inhibited. The main sources of energy in the diet are carbohydrates and fat.
Protein: protein is required by the body to make new skin and muscle. Arginine is an amino acid (basic block of protein) which is important in wound care. A lot of protein is lost from the wound each day, so your body needs more protein than usual during the management of wounds.
Fluid: the skin requires increased intake of fluids to manage wounds. You should aim to drink a minimum of 1500ml or 6-8 cups of fluid a day – this can include water, milk, juice, squash, soup, tea or coffee. If you are on a fluid restricted diet, please discuss with your doctor or dietitian how much fluid you should take per day.
Vitamins and Minerals: vitamins, particularly vitamins A and C, and minerals, especially zinc, are important for wound management and normal function of the immune system.
Vitamin A is found in milk, cheese, eggs, oily fish, dark green vegetables, orange and red fruits and vegetables (such as sweet potatoes, carrots and peppers).
Vitamin C is found mostly in fruit and vegetables, such as oranges, grapefruit, kiwis, tomatoes and green leafy vegetables.
Zinc is a mineral found in red meat, fish and shellfish, milk products, poultry and eggs.
