Pre-Surgery
Nutrition & Wellness Guide
For Orthopedic Patients Preparing to Travel for Surgery
The few weeks before your operation are one of the most powerful windows you have to influence your own recovery. How you eat, hydrate, and prepare your body directly affects how well your tissues heal, how strong your immune system is, and how smoothly your surgery and anesthesia go.
This guide walks you through what to do from about four weeks before surgery up to the day you travel. It is written for patients having arthroscopic and other shorter orthopedic procedures (such as shoulder or knee arthroscopy). Please read it early so you have time to make changes comfortably.
What’s Inside:
- How to use this guide
- The Core Guide — for every patient
- Foods to build your plate around
- Foods and drinks to cut back on
- Supplements and medications to review with your team
- Alcohol, smoking, and nicotine
- Staying hydrated
- Your week-by-week timeline
- Track 2 — if you manage diabetes or blood sugar
- Track 3 — if you are working on your weight
- Your final-week checklist
- Important notes
How to Use This Guide
This guide has two layers. Start with the Core Guide — it applies to everyone. Then check whether either of the two Tracks also applies to you, and follow that section as well.
Section
Who It Is For
The Core Guide
Every patient. This is the foundation — healing foods, what to limit, supplement and medication safety, alcohol and nicotine, and hydration.
Track 2 – Diabetes and Blood Sugar
Patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, or who take medication that affects blood sugar. Follow this in addition to the Core Guide.
Track 3 – Weight
Weight Patients who have been advised to lose some weight before surgery, or who would like to. Follow this in addition to the Core Guide.
The Core Guide
Who it is for: Every patient. This is the foundation — healing foods, what to limit, supplement and medication safety, alcohol and nicotine, and hydration.
Track 2 — Diabetes & Blood Sugar
Who it is for: Patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, or who take medication that affects blood sugar. Follow this in addition to the Core Guide.
Track 3 — Weight
Who it is for: Patients who have been advised to lose some weight before surgery, or who would like to. Follow this in addition to the Core Guide.
Your surgical team always has the final word
This document is general guidance to help you prepare. It does not replace the specific instructions given by your surgeon, anesthesiologist, and the hospital. If anything here differs from what your team tells you, follow your team. When in doubt, ask them.
The Core Guide
Follow this section no matter which procedure you are having. The goal is simple: arrive for surgery well-nourished, well-hydrated, and not carrying anything in your system that could complicate healing or anesthesia.
Build Your Plate Around These Foods
Healing is a building project, and food supplies the materials. In the weeks before surgery, aim for balanced meals built around the nutrients below. You do not need special or expensive foods — ordinary whole foods cover everything.
Nutrient
Why it matters for surgery
Easy everyday sources
Protein
The single most important nutrient for healing. Builds new tissue, supports the immune system, and helps preserve muscle.
Eggs, chicken, fish, lean beef, Greek yogurt, milk, cheese, beans, lentils, tofu, nuts.
Vitamin C
Needed to build collagen, the framework of healing wounds and repairing joints.
Citrus fruit, strawberries, kiwi, bell peppers, broccoli, tomatoes.
Zinc
Supports tissue repair and immune defense against infection.
Meat, poultry, shellfish, beans, chickpeas, pumpkin and sunflower seeds.
Iron
Carries oxygen to healing tissue and helps prevent low blood counts (anemia).
Lean red meat, poultry, beans, lentils, spinach. Pair plant sources with vitamin C.
Vitamin A
Supports healthy skin and the lining of healing tissue.
Carrots, sweet potato, squash, spinach, kale, eggs.
Healthy Fats (omega-3)
From food, these help calm inflammation and support overall recovery.
Salmon, sardines, mackerel, walnuts, chia and flax seeds, olive oil.
Fiber + Fluids
Constipation is very common after surgery (from anesthesia, pain medication, and resting). Good fiber habits now make recovery far more comfortable.
Vegetables, fruit, whole grains, oats, beans — alongside plenty of water.
- Protein – The single most important nutrient for healing. Builds new tissue, supports the immune system, and helps preserve muscle. Found In: Eggs, chicken, fish, lean beef, Greek yogurt, milk, cheese, beans, lentils, tofu, nuts.
- Vitamin C – Needed to build collagen, the framework of healing wounds and repairing joints. Found In: Citrus fruit, strawberries, kiwi, bell peppers, broccoli, tomatoes.
- Zinc – Supports tissue repair and immune defense against infection. Found In: Meat, poultry, shellfish, beans, chickpeas, pumpkin and sunflower seeds.
- Iron – Carries oxygen to healing tissue and helps prevent low blood counts (anemia). Found In: Lean red meat, poultry, beans, lentils, spinach. Pair plant sources with vitamin C.
- Vitamin A – Supports healthy skin and the lining of healing tissue. Found In: Carrots, sweet potato, squash, spinach, kale, eggs.
- Healthy Fats (omega-3) – From food, these help calm inflammation and support overall recovery. Found In: Salmon, sardines, mackerel, walnuts, chia and flax seeds, olive oil.
- Fiber + Fluids – Constipation is very common after surgery (from anesthesia, pain medication, and resting). Good fiber habits now make recovery far more comfortable. Found In: Vegetables, fruit, whole grains, oats, beans — alongside plenty of water.
Simple targets that work
- Include a protein source at every meal and most snacks — roughly a palm-sized portion. Spreading protein across the dayworks better than one large serving.
- Fill half your plate with vegetables and fruit, aiming for a range of colors across the week.
- Choose whole grains (oats, brown rice, whole-grain bread) over refined ones.
- Eat enough overall. This is not the time to be hungry — your body needs fuel and raw materials to prepare. If you are also managing weight, see Track 3.
Foods & Drinks to Cut Back On
You do not need a perfect diet, and there is no need to be extreme. The aim is simply to reduce the things that work against healing so your body is in the best possible shape on surgery day.
- Ultra-processed and fried foods — chips, fast food, packaged snacks, and heavily processed meats can promote inflammation and tend to crowd out more nourishing foods.
- Added sugar and sugary drinks — soda, sweetened juices, energy drinks, and sweets. Excess sugar offers little nutrition and can affect blood sugar control and immune function. (This is especially important in Track 2.)
- Highly salty foods — very salty meals encourage fluid retention and can leave you feeling puffy and sluggish before travel.
- Very large, heavy, or rich meals — particularly in the final days before you fly. Lighter, balanced meals are easier to digest and help you feel your best for travel and surgery.
Note: everyday cooking ingredients used in normal amounts — garlic, ginger, turmeric, olive oil, herbs and spices — are completely fine and even helpful. The cautions in the next section are about concentrated supplement doses, not food.
Supplements & Medications to Review with Your Team
This is one of the most important sections in this guide. Several common supplements and medications can thin the blood, increase bleeding, or interfere with anesthesia — even ones sold without a prescription and considered “natural.” Others, such as certain weight and diabetes medications, can affect how safely anesthesia is given.
Do this first — at least 2 to 3 weeks before surgery
Make a complete written list of everything you take — prescription medications, over-the- counter medicines, vitamins, herbal products, and supplements — including doses. Share this full list with your surgical team well before you travel. They will tell you exactly what to stop, what to continue, and when.
Do not stop or change a prescribed medication on your own. Some medications must be continued, and some must be adjusted in a specific way. Always change them only on your doctor's instruction.
Supplements that commonly need to be paused
Your team will confirm the timing, but the following are frequently paused for about one to two weeks before surgery because they can increase bleeding. This list is a discussion starter — not a list to act on by yourself.
Nutrient
Why it matters for surgery
Fish oil / omega-3 capsules
In concentrated doses can reduce blood clotting (Omega-3 from food is fine.)
Vitamin E (high dose)
Can have a blood-thinning effect at supplement doses.
Garlic, ginger, or turmeric capsules
In concentrated supplement form may increase bleeding. Normal cooking amounts are fine.
Ginkgo biloba
May increase bleeding risk.
Ginseng
May affect bleeding and blood sugar.
St. John’s Wort
Can interact with anesthesia and other medications.
Other herbal or “natural” remedies
Many have effects that are not fully predictable. When unsure, list it and ask.
- Fish Oil / omega-3 capsules – In concentrated doses can reduce blood clotting (Omega-3 from food is fine.)
- Vitamin E (high dose) – Can have a blood-thinning effect at supplement doses.
- Garlic, ginger, or turmeric capsules – In concentrated supplement form may increase bleeding. Normal cooking amounts are fine.
- Ginkgo biloba – May increase bleeding risk.
- Ginseng – May affect bleeding and blood sugar.
- St. John’s Wort – Can interact with anesthesia and other medications.
- Other herbal or “natural” remedies – Many have effects that are not fully predictable. When unsure, list it and ask.
Medications to ask about specifically
- Anti-inflammatory pain relievers (NSAIDs) — ibuprofen, naproxen, and similar. These can affect bleeding and are often paused for several days beforehand — but only on your team’s instruction.
- Aspirin and blood thinners — such as aspirin, warfarin, or newer anticoagulants. Never stop these on your own; some patients must keep taking them. Your prescribing doctor and surgical team will manage these together.
- Weight-loss and diabetes injections (GLP-1 medications) — such as semaglutide ortirzepatide (brand names include Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound). These slow stomach emptying and can raise the risk of complications under anesthesia, so the surgical team usually wants the dose adjusted in advance. Tell them early if you take one.
The golden rule for medications and supplements
When in doubt, write it down and ask. It is always better to over-share your list with your surgical team than to leave something off it.
Alcohol, Smoking & Nicotine
Alcohol
Alcohol can interfere with healing, weaken the immune system, increase bleeding, affect anesthesia, and leave you dehydrated.
- Ideally, reduce or stop alcohol about 3 to 4 weeks before surgery. This gives your body the most benefit.
- At a minimum, avoid all alcohol for at least 48 hours before surgery, including the night you arrive in Mexico.
- If you drink daily or heavily, do not stop suddenly without medical advice — tell your surgical team so they can guide you safely.
Smoking, Vaping & Nicotine
Nicotine narrows blood vessels and reduces the oxygen reaching healing tissue. Smoking also affects the lungs and breathing during anesthesia. This applies to cigarettes, vaping, nicotine pouches, and nicotine gum.
- Stopping helps at any point — and the earlier the better. Even a few weeks of not smoking
measurably lowers the risk of wound-healing and breathing complications; 4 to 8 weeks is
ideal. - If you cannot stop completely, cutting down still helps. Tell your surgical team you smoke
so they can support you.
Staying Hydrated
Good hydration supports your circulation, helps anesthesia go more smoothly, and aids recovery. Travel days are especially dehydrating because air travel dries you out.
- Drink water steadily through the day in the weeks before surgery — pale-yellow urine is a good sign you are well hydrated.
- Drink extra water while traveling and on the day you arrive.
- Limit caffeine and alcohol close to travel, as both are dehydrating.
Your Week-by-Week Timeline
Here is the Core Guide organized by time, so you know what to focus on and when. If you are following Track 2 or Track 3, weave those points in alongside this timeline.
3 to 4 Weeks Before Surgery
- Begin building balanced, protein-rich meals with plenty of vegetables and fruit.
- Make your complete list of medications and supplements, and share it with your surgical team.
- Begin reducing alcohol; if you smoke or vape, this is the best time to stop.
- If weight is a focus, this is the window for gradual change — see Track 3.
1 to 2 Weeks Before Surgery
- Confirm with your team which supplements and medications to pause, and on which day.
- Pause supplements exactly as instructed (many are stopped around this point).
- Keep meals consistent and nourishing; build steady fiber and hydration habits.
- Shift any weight focus toward healing nutrition rather than calorie cutting.
The Final Week
- Eat regular, balanced, moderate-sized meals — protein at each one.
- Avoid all alcohol for at least the last 48 hours.
- Favor familiar, easy-to-digest foods; avoid heavy, greasy, or very rich meals.
- Hydrate well each day and aim for good sleep.
- Pack medications, your medication list, and any health documents in your carry-on bag.
The Day Before Surgery — Your Travel & Arrival Day
Most patients arrive in Mexico one day before surgery and stay at a hotel before coming to the hospital. For this day:
- Eat normal, balanced, moderate meals — do not skip meals and do not overeat.
- Keep meals light and familiar, especially your evening meal. Avoid very rich, greasy, or spicy food and avoid alcohol.
- Drink plenty of water to recover from the flight. Choose bottled or sealed water.
- Bring a couple of simple protein-rich snacks for the journey (for example nuts, a yogurt, or a sandwich).
- Rest and get a good night’s sleep before surgery day.
The Day of Surgery
Follow only the fasting instructions given to you by the hospital. The hospital will tell you exactly when to stop eating and drinking. Once your fasting period begins, do not eat or drink anything that has not been approved by your care team — even water — unless they tell you otherwise. If you are unsure about anything, ask hospital staff before surgery.
Track 2 - If you Manage Diabetes or Blood Sugar
Follow the Core Guide first, then add the points below. Steady, well-controlled blood sugar in the weeks before surgery lowers the risk of infection and helps wounds heal, so this preparation genuinely matters.
Eating
- Keep your blood sugar as stable and well-controlled as you can in the weeks beforehand.
- Eat at regular times and do not skip meals — skipped meals make blood sugar harder to control.
- Keep your carbohydrate intake consistent from meal to meal, and pair carbohydrates with protein, healthy fat, and fiber to soften blood-sugar spikes.
- Be especially firm about limiting sugary drinks and sweets.
- Do not attempt a crash diet — see Track 3 if weight is also a focus, and approach it gently.
Monitoring & Travel
- Check your blood sugar more often than usual around your travel days — new routines, time changes, and travel meals can all affect it.
- Carry all diabetes medication and supplies in your carry-on bag, never in checked luggage.
- Bring a fast-acting sugar source (such as glucose tablets) in case of a low while traveling.
- Keep a simple log of your readings to share with the hospital team.
Medications
Discuss medication timing early
Diabetes medications — including insulin, tablets, and GLP-1 injections — often need to be adjusted around the surgery-day fasting period. Talk to your surgical and diabetes care teams well before you travel about exactly how and when to take your medication on the day before and the day of surgery. Do not make these changes on your own.
Track 3 - If You're Working on Your Weight
Follow the Core Guide first, then add the points below. The key idea: the time to lose weight is the weeks and months before you travel — not the final stretch before surgery.
If you have time before surgery
- Aim for gradual, modest weight loss — roughly half a kilogram to one kilogram (about 1 to 2 pounds) per week.
- Lose weight through balanced eating and slightly smaller portions, not through skipping meals or very-low-calorie or “crash” diets.
- Keep protein high at every meal. Adequate protein protects your muscle while you lose fat, and muscle matters for recovery.
- Keep meals rich in vegetables, fruit, and whole grains so you stay well-nourished, not just lighter.
Important: do not crash diet close to surgery
In the final 1 to 2 weeks before surgery, stop focusing on weight loss and shift fully to healing nutrition. Very restrictive dieting right before surgery depletes the protein, vitamins, and minerals your body needs to heal and recover from anesthesia. Arriving well-nourished is far more important than arriving a little lighter.
In the final 1 to 2 weeks
- Eat normal, balanced, moderate meals with protein at each one.
- Do not skip meals, fast, or restrict heavily.
- Think of this stage as “fueling for surgery,” not “dieting.”
If a specific weight target has been recommended to you for your procedure, contact your surgical team as early as possible so you have enough time to reach it safely and gradually.
Your Final-Week Checklist
A quick summary to review in the last week before you travel.
- I have shared my full list of medications and supplements with my surgical team.
- I have confirmed which supplements and medications to pause, and on which day — and followed those instructions.
- I have not stopped or changed any prescription medication without my doctor’s approval.
- I have been eating balanced meals with protein at each one.
- I have avoided alcohol for at least the last 48 hours.
- I have cut down or stopped smoking, vaping, and nicotine.
- I have been drinking water steadily and staying well hydrated.
- I have packed my medications, medication list, and health documents in my carry-on bag.
- (Track 2) I have packed diabetes supplies and a fast-acting sugar source, and discussed medication timing.
- (Track 3) I have shifted from weight loss to healing-focused nutrition.
- I know I will receive surgery-day fasting instructions from the hospital and will follow them exactly.