What to Eat After Hernia Surgery to Help You Recover Faster
Key takeaways:
There’s no specific diet to follow after hernia surgery. But it will help to choose nutrient-rich foods that promote recovery, wound healing, and gut function.
A diet rich in fiber can help prevent constipation after surgery. As you start eating again, try to incorporate vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.
Protein-rich foods — such as fish, tofu, and poultry — help with wound healing and support the immune system after surgery. This promotes healing and recovery.
A hernia forms when an organ or your intestine pushes through muscle or tissue. You can often see a hernia. It looks like a bump or bulge protruding outward. The belly or groin area are common hernia locations.
Hernia repair is quite common in the US, where more than 800,000 surgeries are carried out each year. After the procedure, you’re usually sent home the same day. Post-surgical care is done at home.
As with any surgery, it’s important to eat well to promote healing. This article outlines dietary advice to follow after hernia-repair surgery.
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How does hernia surgery affect digestion?
Hernia surgery may cause reduced appetite and constipation. Post-surgical pain and digestive changes may also reduce hunger and change your bowel frequency. These symptoms will resolve as you begin to heal.
Your surgeon will likely prescribe pain medication after surgery. Both the pain and certain medications may reduce your appetite. So, you may not feel very hungry in the first few days after surgery. This is normal. But it’s still important to try to eat small meals or snacks. Food and drink provide nutrients that increase energy levels and promote healing. Guidelines suggest eating as soon as possible for optimal recovery.
Some pain medications may cause constipation. Low food intake and reduced physical activity can also contribute to this problem. Preventing constipation is important. It’ll improve your comfort and reduce straining. Straining to have a bowel movement puts pressure on your surgical incision.
To help prevent constipation, you can:
Walk daily (once cleared by your surgeon).
Drink 8 to 10 cups of fluid daily.
Eat high-fiber foods, such as whole grains, beans, and vegetables.
Take fiber supplements.
Talk to your surgeon or healthcare professional about medications to prevent or treat constipation.
Eating when you don’t have an appetite: Here are some tips to help you keep up with your body’s energy and nutrients needs while you’re recovering.
Foods that help with constipation: Surgery can temporarily slow down your gut. Certain foods can help get things moving again.
Pain after surgery: Pain can affect your appetite, digestion, and recovery. Learn about your options to safely treat your pain at home after the procedure.
What should you eat after hernia surgery?
When you’re ready to start eating after hernia surgery, you can eat your normal diet once you’re up to it. Studies show that getting back to a regular diet quickly can help with healing and recovery.
Aim for a diet filled with nutritious whole foods. Eating more nutrient-dense foods after surgery helps with better outcomes, including faster healing and fewer complications. Whole foods contain essential nutrients, such as protein, fiber, and vitamins.
This is also why it’s best to limit ultra-processed foods, such as candy, soda, and chips. Ultra-processed foods lack nutrients. Ultra-processed foods also contribute to inflammation, which isn’t beneficial to the healing process.
To promote healing, include the following in your diet.
Foods rich in protein
Your body needs more protein after surgery to prevent muscle breakdown. Protein also aids wound healing and supports the immune system.
You can get your protein from:
Meat, poultry, or fish
Eggs
Dairy foods
Tofu
Legumes
Nuts and seeds
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Vegetables and fruit
Everything from berries to leafy greens are nutritious choices. Vegetables and fruit provide vitamins and antioxidants that help reduce inflammation and produce collagen. Both help with wound healing at the incision site.
Foods rich in fiber
Eating fiber will help you avoid constipation after surgery. Aim for 25 g to 35 g of fiber per day. Foods that are high in fiber include:
Vegetables (especially green peas, broccoli, and brussels sprouts)
Fruits (especially raspberries, avocados, and pears)
Whole grains
Foods rich in bran
Legumes (such as chickpeas, lentils, and beans)
Nuts (such as almonds, pecans, and walnuts)
Seeds (such as chia, hemp, and flax)
Do you have to avoid certain foods after hernia surgery?
There are no specific foods that must be avoided after hernia surgery.
You may not be able to eat for a few hours right after surgery. A member of your surgical care team may recommend only clear fluids, such as ice chips, juice, and water. This is done in case you experience nausea or vomiting from the anesthesia. It also keeps pressure off your stomach, which may be close to the area of your surgical incision.
In the past, post-surgical diet started with clear fluids, then progressed to thicker fluids, then a soft diet before getting back to eating regular meals. This regimen may still be practiced in some clinics, but it’s not a must-do.
Once the anesthesia wears off, there’s no restriction on food intake. What you choose to eat really depends on your appetite and how well you tolerate certain foods. Your own appetite is a good indicator of what you should eat.
Some people may prefer to avoid:
Dry or crumbly foods: If this is true for you, you can try soft and bland foods (such as plain rice, soup, or smoothies) instead of dry or crumbly foods (such as crackers).
Carbonated beverages: Bubbly drinks like soda can cause burping or belching. The burping movement in your digestive system may cause pain at the surgical site.
Foods that cause uncomfortable gas or bloating: Common culprits are beans, cabbage, and sorbitol (found in sugar-free candy and gum).
You should avoid alcohol after surgery. Alcohol may not react well with pain medication. It also may cause dehydration and slow down wound healing.
As previously mentioned, ultra-processed foods should be kept to a minimum because they lack nutrients. This type of food is often high in simple sugar, which increases inflammation when eaten in large quantities.
How long does it take to recover from hernia surgery?
Recovery time depends on the type and extent of surgery you had. When you’ll be able to return to work depends on the type of job you have. If you have a job that isn't physically strenuous, like a desk job, you’ll likely be able to return to work about one or two weeks after surgery. You may be off for longer if your work requires more exertion, heavy lifting, or manual labor. In that case, you may need 4 to 6 weeks off.
Your normal diet can be enjoyed as soon as you feel better. Listen to your appetite and eat what you tolerate.
The bottom line
The best diet after hernia surgery is one that makes you feel good. There’s no specific plan you must follow. Optimal healing comes from a balanced diet filled with nutrient-dense whole foods. It should include protein for wound healing and fiber to prevent constipation.
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References
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