Good nutrition is important in order to help heal wounds, including wounds on your skin. Your body requires an adequate intake of calories, protein, vitamins and minerals in order to efficiently build and maintain healthy skin. When you experience skin sores, you require these nutrients in order to help increase the strength of your skin and prevent further wounds. You can find these nutrients naturally in foods or in some supplements.
Protein
Protein is essential to help form and maintain healthy skin. According to the CWI Medical website, protein helps your skin remain strong and less susceptible to wounds and sores. If you do not consume enough protein, your skin may become weak and make the healing of skin sores difficult. Protein is also important because it helps fight infection, and you should aim for 75 to 100 g per day. You can consult a doctor or dietitian about an appropriate amount of protein for your needs. Good protein sources include lean poultry, fish, eggs, milk, yogurt and cheese. You can also obtain protein from soybeans, lentils, nuts and seeds.
Calories
Your body requires an adequate intake of calories in order to promote wound healing. Calories are necessary to give your body the extra energy needed to help heal wounds, in addition to providing you with the energy for daily activities. The Dietetics website suggests you consume 1,700 to 3,150 calories per day. You can consult a doctor or dietitian about your specific needs. To help boost your energy intake, you can choose healthy fats, such as olive oil, nut butters, nuts and avocados. Other good energy-dense choices can be whole eggs, oatmeal and cheese.
Zinc
Zinc is a mineral that your body requires for the production of protein, prevention of bacterial growth and maintenance of a normal immune response. By boosting the strength of your immune response, zinc is able to help increase your body's ability to fight infection, cellular damage and infection. CWI Medical recommends that you consume 15 to 25 mg of zinc per day. Good zinc-rich foods include lean meats, poultry, organ meats and whole grains.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an essential nutrient that your body requires for collagen synthesis, helping to provide your bones and tissues with increased stability and strength. Vitamin C is necessary for normal wound healing and for repairing and maintaining your bones, teeth and cartilage. You should have 100 to 200 mg of vitamin C per day in order to help heal wounds, such as skin sores. You can find this vitamin in foods such as oranges, limes, lemons, melons, strawberries, broccoli and bell peppers. You can also find this vitamin in a supplement.
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