Wounds and (Mostly) Diet

Patients may wish there was a magic food or supplement that would heal their wound, but as we know, there is none. In my presentation at SAWC Fall Virtual, I discuss integrative medicine, which incorporates different treatments from various disciplines with the goal of promoting health and treating the whole person rather than the sum of their somatic diseases. With that in mind, I explore integrative approaches to wound care that involve lifestyle aspects such as diet and exercise.  

I propose a different way to think about chronic wounds—to view chronic wounds as a result of two large macroprocesses: aging and metabolic disease. If you think about the common chronic wounds seen in the clinical setting, they all are related to one or both of these macroprocesses. The question we want to ask is: What is the relationship among food, aging, metabolic disease, and wound incidence and treatment?

My presentation focuses on some trends in food and nutrition, including the following:

• Sugar, fat, and carbohydrate intake
• More processed foods
• Eating out more and cooking at home less
• Drinking sweetened beverages
• Eating fast food
• Larger serving sizes

I am going to propose that the single food item that contributes to the epidemic of wounds is fructose. The severity of wounds has been linked to the metabolic disturbances caused by added sugar in our food. If we are serious about preventing wounds or at the very least wound recurrence, we should focus on these issues. For example, patients should know how to read food labels and recognize that labels may use other terms for sweeteners.

My presentation also takes a look at research on the aging process and wound healing, the effects of an anti-inflammatory diet, and food insecurity. People who are food insecure rely on high-calorie, low-nutrient-dense foods such as junk food to satiate hunger. This leaves them at risk for nutrient deficiencies and subsequent poorer outcomes. Those with food insecurity also tend to lack the financial means to pay for treatment and medications, increasing non-adherence.

What can you do in your wound clinic tomorrow to advise patients on nutrition and wound healing?

• Talk to (all) your patients about diet
• Start early and build up at every visit
• Prepare a handout with your favorite tips
• Assess patients’ food insecurity and act on it

To watch the presentation, click here.