Nutrition: The Biggest Thing You’re Missing In Wound Care

Advising and helping patients with nutrition during the wound healing process is of great importance. However, many of us do not do a good enough job with this. Getting a patient to a nutritionist is the best option. All too often and for a variety of reasons, that does not always happen.

Therefore, it is useful to provide recommendations to your patients with lower extremity wounds. Here are some very simple lists that you can provide to your patients. During the healing process, patients need more protein, vitamin A, vitamin C and zinc.

Sources of protein:

• Meats                           
• Beans
• Eggs                                     
• Milk
• Soy protein products              
• Yogurt (Greek yogurt is better)
• Tofu                                     
• Soy
• Nuts

Sources of vitamin A:

• Dark green, leafy vegetables
• Orange or yellow vegetables
• Cantaloupe
• Fortified dairy products
• Liver
• Fortified cereals

Sources of vitamin C:

• Citrus fruits                           
• Juices
• Strawberries                                   
• Tomatoes
• Tomato juice                                  
• Cabbage
• Peppers                                          
• Baked potatoes
• Spinach                                          
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower                            
• Brussels sprouts

Sources of zinc:

• Fortified cereals
• Red meats
• Seafood

Dr. Lehrman is on the APMA Coding Committee, serves as an expert panelist on Codingline and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Podiatric Practice Management (AAPPM). Follow him on Twitter @DrLehrman