Pre-Surgery Diet for Heart Surgery

Following heart surgery, patients need to make major changes in their habits. It's best for them to begin to eat more nutritious foods before the operation, to become accustomed to the lifestyle changes. Adjustments will minimize post-operative discomfort and speed up recovery. A heart-healthy diet is essential because diet likely played a role in the need for surgery in the first place.

Good Habits

Nutrition is very important to being healthy and is especially integral before you're hospitalized for heart surgery. Eat a balanced diet that is comprised of a good mix of proteins, calories, vitamins and minerals. There should be a range of foods from the four food groups: meat, grains, dairy, fruits and vegetables. They should be low in fat and cholesterol. Avoid sugar and processed foods which contain a lot of sodium. Instead of simple carbohydrates such as white bread, which have a lot of sugar in them, eat high-fiber, complex carbs. Fiber is good for your system because it maintains healthy cholesterol and elimination. You may experience constipation after surgery, so getting in the habit of eating fiber will help your system respond to this.

Right Before

For two days leading up to heart surgery, stop drinking any sort of alcohol. The night before heart surgery, patients should eat their normal diet. Also, take any medications prescribed by the doctor. However, take them with a minimal amount of water. Don't take any sort of anticoagulant (blood thinning) medications like Plavix or aspirin. It's also essential not to eat or drink after midnight unless you have other directions from your physician.

Keep It Going

Eating healthy should continue after surgery. It will help you recover and heal faster. Your doctor may tell you to eat a special diet such as limiting the amount of sodium you eat. Keep your meals well-balanced by eating a variety of foods. Aim for foods with less salt or sodium. Eat more carbohydrates such as pasta, rice, vegetables and potatoes but eat fewer sweets and sugar. When planning your meals, choose foods that have lower amounts of cholesterol and fat. Foods you should limit or avoid include organ meats, whole milk, egg yolks, lunch meats, cheese and fried foods.