Fuel Your Body For Healing: Nutrition & Wound Healing

We all remember the famous cartoon character who, when he gulped down a can of spinach, grew muscles and got a burst of energy. Not unlike that famous sailor, eating food rich in proper nutrients fuels the body and promotes healthy skin, muscle development, and healing. In observance of National Nutrition Month, CūtisCare shares tips about how to appropriately supplement your diet with nutrients essential to the various phases of wound healing.

Recipe for Wound Healing

Just as there are steps that need to be followed to successfully make a recipe, so are there sequential phases of healing. When building a recipe, it is important to add ingredients in the right order. Similarly, certain nutrients enable different phases of the wound healing process.

Inflammatory Phase

The inflammatory phase of healing, which occurs right after an injury, is marked by swelling, redness, and heat at and around the wound site. During this phase, damaged cells and bacteria are removed from the wound area. There are four nutrients that, when absorbed during the inflammatory phase, support wound healing.

• Vitamin A – This vitamin enhances the immune system response
• Bromelain – This enzyme prevents prolonged inflammation
• Protein – This prevents prolonged inflammation
• Vitamin C – This vitamin supports immune system response

Proliferative Phase

During the proliferative phase of wound healing, the wound is rebuilt with new tissue. The edges of the wound are drawn inward as myofibroblasts contract the wound. Healthy tissue during the proliferative phase is pink and even and does not bleed easily. The nutrients that are helpful during this phase are:

• Vitamin C – This vitamin is needed for collagen synthesis
• Glucosamine – This supplement promotes the production of hyaluronic acid
• Vitamin A – This vitamin enables epithelial cell differentiation
• Zinc – This mineral assist in cell proliferation and protein synthesis

Maturation Phase

In the maturation phase, collagen is remodeled, and the wound officially closes. This phase begins about 21 days after the initial injury. To promote final wound closure in this stage, there is one nutrient that must be properly consumed.

• Protein – This is a vital nutrient for all stages of wound healing. Without appropriate protein intake, inflammation can be prolonged, and infection is more likely.

CūtisCare Is Your National Wound Healing Resource

If you’re looking to add a wound healing center in your hospital or clinic, CūtisCare can help. Through evidence-based treatments, such as Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) and appropriate nutrition, wounds can be healed, and you can get back to living.