As part of your preparation for surgery, you may be tested for anaemia and if found to be low, this will be treated appropriately.
Iron is an important mineral for our body. If your body doesn’t have enough iron you may become anaemic which can cause tiredness and make you more at risk of infections. You should try and ensure you get a variety of iron rich foods. Further information can be found at the British Dietetic Association.
Vitamin D is important to help us have healthy bones and teeth, and also important in protecting our muscle strength. Our main source of Vitamin D comes from the sun. In Scotland however we only get the right type of sunlight that we need to produce Vitamin D, between April and September. Vitamin D can be found in some dietary sources but these are limited. It is recommended everyone consider taking a vitamin D supplement (10 micrograms daily) between the winter months of October until March, especially those at higher risk of a vitamin D deficiency. Further information can be found at Health Scotland.
Having a healthy balanced diet should provide you with all the nutrients your body requires but if you decide you want to take a dietary supplement this should be discussed with your doctor/specialist nurse or dietitian as some supplements may interact with your treatment or medications.
Remember, there is no such thing as a super food and there is limited evidence to support any claims!
