Quick Answers
When you have a wound, it is important to stay hydrated and promote healing. Some beverages that may help include:
- Water – Helps keep the body hydrated and flushes bacteria from the wound
- Juices – Provide vitamins and minerals to support healing
- Tea – Certain teas have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties
- Bone broth – Provides protein and nutrients to repair damaged tissue
- Avoid alcohol – Can slow healing and interact with medications
When you have an injury like a cut, scrape, burn or surgical wound, what you drink can impact healing. Proper hydration and nutrition are important to promote recovery. Some beverages may even provide specific benefits for wound healing and preventing infection. On the other hand, other drinks can actually delay healing or cause complications.
In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best and worst beverages for wounds. We’ll cover how staying hydrated, getting proper nutrition and harnessing the antimicrobial properties of certain drinks can optimize your recovery. We’ll also discuss drinks to avoid when you have an open wound.
Why Staying Hydrated is Crucial for Wound Healing
Drinking enough fluids is critical for recovery from any wound. Here’s why hydration matters:
- Promotes new tissue formation – Hydration provides the water needed to generate new skin, blood vessels and connective tissue.
- Flushes bacteria – Drinking fluids helps cleanse wounds of debris and prevent infection.
- Thins blood – Well-hydrated blood flows better to bring oxygen and nutrients to the wound site.
- Aids clotting – Clotting factors in blood work better when the blood is not too thick.
- Prevents complications – Dehydration can cause headaches, constipation, dizziness and electrolyte imbalances that complicate recovery.
Doctors typically recommend drinking around 2-3 liters of fluids daily while recovering from a wound. Thirst is not always a reliable indicator, so it helps to drink on a schedule.
How Much Fluid Intake is Needed?
The exact amount of fluids needed varies based on factors like your size, climate and activity level. A simple guideline is to drink about half your body weight in ounces of fluids per day. For example:
| Weight | Recommended Fluid Intake |
|---|---|
| 120 lbs | 60 oz (1.8 liters) |
| 150 lbs | 75 oz (2.2 liters) |
| 180 lbs | 90 oz (2.7 liters) |
Increase your fluid intake if you are sweating heavily, at high altitudes or taking medications that cause fluid loss. Also drink more fluids if suffering from vomiting, diarrhea or fever.
Water: The Healthiest Hydration
Plain water is usually the best option for staying hydrated and promoting wound healing. Water offers these benefits:
- Hydrates effectively – Water provides pure, calorie-free hydration.
- Flushes the wound – Helps wash away dirt, debris and bacteria.
- Lacks side effects – Water has no negative health effects or interactions with medications.
- Improves circulation – Keeps blood vessels dilated and blood flow healthy.
- Cleanses toxins – Water filters through the kidneys to remove waste.
Aim to drink water consistently throughout the day when recovering from a wound. Have a glass upon waking, with each meal and in between. Besides plain water, other unsweetened options like seltzer water and mineral water can aid hydration as well.
Tips for Drinking More Water
- Carry a water bottle as a reminder.
- Choose water instead of sweetened beverages.
- Set a phone alert to drink water hourly.
- Drink a glass before each meal.
- Infuse your water with fruit for flavor.
- Freeze water bottles to make portable ice packs.
Juices that Support Wound Healing
While plain water is best for pure hydration, juices offer hydration plus antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Fruit and vegetable juices beneficial for wound care include:
Cranberry Juice
- Contains proanthocyanidins that prevent bacteria from adhering to tissue.
- May help prevent urinary tract infections that can complicate wound recovery.
- Choose unsweetened varieties or dilute sweetened cranberry juice.
Prune Juice
- High sorbitol content acts as a mild laxative to prevent constipation from wound medications.
- Sorbitol draws fluid into the colon to soften stools.
- Helps maintain regular bowel movements to avoid straining injuries.
Pomegranate Juice
- Rich in antioxidants called polyphenols that fight inflammation and damage from free radicals.
- May enhance collagen production important for tissue regrowth.
- Choose 100% pomegranate juice without added sugars.
Orange Juice
- Packed with vitamin C to support immune function and collagen formation.
- Bioflavonoids in citrus fruits have anti-inflammatory properties.
- Opt for not-from-concentrate, pasteurized orange juice.
When drinking juice for wound care, select low-sugar varieties. Also avoid acidic juices like grapefruit and tomato juice that may sting. Drink juices diluted with water and moderately in combination with other fluids.
Soothing Teas that Promote Healing
Sipping antioxidant-rich herbal teas offers hydration plus medicinal plant compounds to facilitate healing. Some teas to include in your diet when recovering from a wound include:
Green Tea
- Contains EGCG and other catechins that reduce inflammation.
- Has antimicrobial effects against potential wound pathogens like Staph. aureus.
- Aids tissue remodeling needed for wound closure.
Oolong Tea
- Provides polyphenols that activate wound healing pathways.
- May enhance development of new blood vessels in the wound.
- Has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects to prevent infection.
Chamomile Tea
- The herb chamomile has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and wound healing properties.
- May speed wound closure based on evidence from animal studies.
- Offers a soothing, relaxing effect to decrease stress.
Ginger Tea
- Ginger contains compounds called gingerols that reduce swelling and inflammation.
- Improves circulation needed for transporting nutrients to wounds.
- Provides antioxidants that protect damaged tissue.
Avoid adding milk to tea, as dairy may increase mucus production. Sweeten teas sparingly with honey or lemon. Drink herbal teas moderately since their effects in excess are unclear.
Bone Broth: A Nutritious Healing Food
Drinking bone broth is an easy way to obtain concentrated protein, vitamins and minerals that provide the raw materials for wound healing. Benefits of bone broth include:
- Protein for tissue repair – Glycine and proline support skin, blood vessel and muscle regeneration.
- Anti-inflammatory minerals – Zinc, magnesium and phosphorus reduce swelling and pain.
- Collagen from bones – Helps strengthen connective tissue and speed closure.
- Sulfur-containing amino acids – Beneficial for rebuilding skin and optimal immunity.
- Trace minerals – Minerals like silicon, boron and manganese facilitate healing.
Sipping warm mugs of bone broth several times a day helps provide key nutrients needed for recovery. Opt for homemade bone broth using organic bones for purity.
Alcohol: An Unhealthy Choice for Wound Healing
It is best to completely avoid drinking alcohol when recovering from an injury. Reasons to abstain include:
- Impairs immune function, raising infection risk
- Causes fluid loss and dehydration
- Interferes with medications and pain management
- Increases bleeding and delays clotting
- Causes blood vessel dilation that can reopen wounds
- May react with topical antiseptics, causing skin irritation
Consuming alcohol can slow the healing process. It also reduces new collagen development needed for tissue repair. For optimal wound recovery, it’s advisable to avoid drinking alcohol completely.
Possible Interactions between Alcohol and Medications
| Medication | Interaction with Alcohol |
|---|---|
| Antibiotics | Decreased effectiveness and upsetting the gut |
| NSAID pain relievers | Increased risk of stomach bleeding |
| Sedatives | Excessive drowsiness and slowed breathing |
| Blood thinners | Enhanced anticoagulant effect with bleeding |
Avoiding Beverages that Delay Healing
Besides alcohol, other drinks are best minimized or avoided entirely after an injury. These include:
Sugary Drinks
- Slow healing by causing blood sugar spikes and inflammation.
- Soft drinks, sports drinks, juice cocktails.
- Consume sweets and sugary beverages occasionally in moderation.
Caffeinated Beverages
- Caffeine causes dehydration and disrupts sleep needed for healing.
- Limit coffee, tea, energy drinks to 1-2 per day at most.
- Avoid caffeine at least 4-6 hours before bedtime.
Carbonated Beverages
- The carbonation and acidity can irritate wounds or cause stinging.
- Avoid soda, sparkling water and beer.
- Opt for still water, herbal tea, juices and smoothies instead.
Check with your doctor about any supplements or special dietary beverages. Some contain ingredients that act as blood thinners or impact medications. Otherwise, drink a variety of healthy fluids to optimize wound healing.
The Takeaway: Drinks to Support Wound Healing
Proper hydration and nutrition are crucial when recovering from an injury. Focus on drinking water, herbal tea, vegetable juices and bone broth. Avoid alcohol and heavily sweetened or caffeinated beverages. Follow your healthcare provider’s guidance about fluids if taking medications or with certain medical conditions. Incorporating more healing beverages into your diet will help you bounce back more quickly after a wound.
