We are what we eat and this is especially important when healing from oral surgery. Our body’s ability to heal from surgery depends on our individual physiology and healing capacity as well as the “fuel” that allows it to respond accordingly. Healing is a complex process that involves multiple activities at the cellular level requiring important nutrients. These include antioxidants, vitamins, proteins, and a sufficient amount of carbohydrates and fats. Following any type of oral surgery, it is important for patients to follow an appropriate soft or liquid diet rich in such nutrients. A selection of recipes and dietary recommendations after oral surgery can be found in our nutritional section.
I was reminded about the importance of eating healthy during a cooking class given by Lisa Miles Jackson. Lisa is a retired registered nurse who now focuses on health and wellness without “diets and deprivation.” During her class, we made a delicious sunflower dip, a wonderful quinoa salad, and a colorful rainbow kale slaw using fresh vegetables and other ingredients. I thought the sunflower dip was particularly suitable for patients following oral surgery procedures since it is soft yet packed with great nutrients. With her permission, I would like to share her recipe below. You can find other great recipes on her website: www.carpediemwellness.org
Enjoy!
Sunflower Queso Dip
1 cup sunflower seeds, soaked ½ hour in water
1 lemon, juiced
1 small tomato
1 Tbls white miso
1 tsp white miso chick pea
1 tsp sea salt
1 Tbls water
1 clove garlic
1/4 red bell pepper
1 Tbls nutritional yeast
1/4 jalapeno pepper
Put all the ingredients in a blender and drizzle in water. Dip can also be used for cheesy broccoli and sprouted rice, or make it thinner and use as a soup, or pour over kale chips and dehydrate.