Nutrition’s important role in wound healing

Remember when you skinned your knee as a kid and the scrape healed on its own with little more than a bandage?  Now, with the passage of time, wounds seem to take much longer to heal – sometimes weeks and months.  No matter how minor or major a wound may be, we want wound healing to proceed as fast as possible with a complete recovery.  But the body’s capacity to repair the skin diminishes as we get older. Certain factors such as a reduction of growth factors and stem cells in the skin making wound healing take longer. Another wrench delaying wound healing can be chronic disease, especially blood vessel disease, and malnutrition. 

Here are other causes that can lead to poor wound healing:

·      Diabetes

People who are not in good control of their diabetes often experience slow and poor healing of wounds. When high levels of blood glucose caused by diabetes are present, over time, this affects the nerves and can lead to poor blood circulation, making it harder for blood needed for skin repair, to reach areas of the body affected by sores or wounds. Neuropathy or poor circulation, can also lead to numbness in the hands, feet or legs making it difficult to see or feel a nick or cut. Cuts or wounds that are healing slowly also make a person more prone to infection.

·      Pressure wounds

Anyone who is spending long amounts of time lying or sitting on areas where bones are prominent  - like the heels, buttocks, hips, head, and lower back – are more likely to develop pressure injuries called bedsores.  These small irritations can suddenly become quite large or deep. The pressure cuts off blood flow to the soft tissues on top of the bones and if it goes on too long, the tissue damage can be irreversible and die.

·      Venous insufficiency

In some older adults, the veins lose their ability to effectively move blood back to the heart. This can cause significant leg swelling and skin ulcers which can make the skin break down and form a wound.

Nutrition’s role in wound healing

Good nutrition is required for proper healing.  Ignoring the necessity of nutrient-rich foods’ influence on the healing process runs the risk of slow healing increasing the chances of infections and possible scarring.

Depending on the severity of a wound, healing can also be attributed to the general overall health of a person.  If a wound has not healed within a few weeks, it should be examined by a healthcare professional to check for a possible infection or that it might reflect on an underlying disease such as diabetes.

Our food choices and nutritional status make a difference.  During the healing process, the body needs increased amounts of calories, protein, vitamins A and C, and the minerals zinc and iron.  Here are guidelines to follow choosing foods to help enhance and promote wound healing:

·      Have 5 or 6 mini meals a day.  Avoid skipping meals - this makes it much harder to get in all the nutrients your body needs daily.  Use the MyPlate food guide to help you plan out nutritious meals and snacks.

·      Choose good food sources of protein.  Aim for 25-30 grams of protein at each meal and 10-15 grams at a snack.  Excellent choices include beef, chicken, fish, eggs, milk, yogurt, beans, soy nuts, and soy protein products. 

·      Vitamin C is key - it helps the body make collagen and forms new tissue essential to healing wounds.  Rich food sources of vitamin C include all citrus fruits and juices, all berries, tomatoes, tomato juice, peppers, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage. 

·      Adequate wound healing would not be possible without vitamin A.  It’s an integral part of the healing process as cellular reproduction must occur for new tissue to grow.  It does its job by reducing the risk of wound infection, keeps our immune system strong, and helps manage inflammation that occurs when we have a wound.  Dark green, leafy vegetables, orange or yellow vegetables, cantaloupe, fortified dairy products, liver and fortified cereals are good sources of vitamin A.

·      The mineral zinc has a special role in wound healing.  It benefits the body by helping to maintain the structural integrity of dermal tissue and mucosal membranes.  Zinc can be found in fortified cereals, red meat and seafood.

·      Another vital mineral necessary for healing to occur is iron.  Iron delivers oxygen to the wound which is extremely important as one of the most common causes of inflammation in a cut or would is lack of oxygen.  A deficiency of iron may delay tissue rebuilding and repair.  Find good sources of iron in fortified cereals, beef, beef liver, lamb, beans, whole grains, spinach, sunflower seeds, and tofu.  Our bodies absorb iron best from animal sources than plant sources. 

·      Keep well-hydrated with water and other unsweetened beverages such as milk, 100 percent fruit juices, coffee and tea.