Your skin's cycle of tissue growth and repair relies on protein, especially during wound healing. When you're recovering from a surgical, traumatic or pressure wound, the amount of protein in your diet has a direct effect on how efficiently your wound heals. Adding protein powder to foods or beverages can promote wound healing by boosting your intake of this essential nutrient, according Drugs.com.
Significance
Your body requires protein to form new tissues and make up for any protein deficit caused by drainage from the wound. In a Nov. 2003 article published in "Alternative Medicine Review," Douglas MacKay, N.D. and Alan L. Miller, N.D. note that a lack of dietary protein is one of the most significant impediments to wound healing. Protein powder blended into smoothies or moist foods offers an easy way to increase your intake of this nutrient, especially if you are having difficulty swallowing or have a loss of appetite due to illness, surgery or injury.
Types
Most protein powders are made of whey -- a protein found in milk -- egg whites, soy flour or proteins extracted from brown rice. If you have allergies to milk products or eggs, a soy or rice powder may meet your needs. Some protein powders provide higher concentrations of specific amino acids, the chemical components of protein that fulfill different needs in your body. According to MacKay and Miller, protein supplements containing the amino acid arginine promote wound repair and support your body's ability to fight infection during wound healing. Egg-based protein powders are high in arginine, according to TrueStarHealth.com.
Requirements
The amount of protein powder you need each day may depend on a number of factors, including your nutritional status, the severity of the wound and the amount of exudate, or drainage from the wound. According to the National Center on Physical Activity and Disability, you may need an extra 1.5 to 3g of protein per 1kg of body weight each day when you have wound that is healing. Your health care provider will help you determine how many grams of protein you need each day to speed wound healing. Protein powder is a supplement and should not replace the protein in foods such as lean meat, poultry, fish eggs, milk, yogurt, nuts or soy products.
Dietary Changes
In addition to consuming extra protein, you may need to increase your intake of other nutrients that contribute to wound healing, such as vitamins A and C and zinc. Vitamins A and C help your body fight infection in the wound and promote healthy tissue regeneration. The mineral zinc plays a vital role in your body's production of protein. Dark green vegetables, citrus fruits and orange vegetables, such as sweet potatoes and carrots, are rich in vitamins A and C. Wheat germ, peanut butter, eggs, milk and beef are good sources of zinc.
Suggestions
Following your health care provider's recommendations, add protein powder to milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, hot cereals or smoothies. A high-protein shake recipe from the MayoClinic.com combines protein powder with yogurt, 2 percent milk, a fresh banana and wheat germ. This shake provides 32g of protein per serving.
References
- Drugs.com: Wound Healing and Your Diet: Care Guide
- "Alternative Medicine Review"; Nutritional Support for Wound Healing; Douglas MacKay, N.D.; 2003
- PubMed.gov: The Importance of Patients' Nutritional Status in Wound Healing
- MayoClinic.com: High-Calorie, High-Protein Smoothie
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Nutrition for Everyone: Basics: Protein
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