Adnkronos (Adnkronos) – "Doctor, what can I eat?" It's one of the most frequent questions patients ask before surgery and, especially, in the days following it. For a long time, it was thought that after surgery, it was necessary to wait a long time before resuming eating. Today, however, the old myth of prolonged fasting is being put to rest: the latest scientific evidence gathered in the ERAS (Enhanced Recovery After Surgery) protocol shows that resuming eating within 24 hours can contribute to a more rapid recovery, helping the body regain energy and reducing the risk of complications.
This renewed focus on the role of nutrition in the treatment process has led to the publication "Recipes for Healing and Well-Being," a book produced by Academia Barilla in collaboration with Eras Society Italy, with contributions from doctors, nutritionists, and culinary professionals. The project connects the latest guidance on post-surgery recovery with gastronomic culture, offering patients a practical tool to guide them through the various phases of the surgical process. The 28 recipes are designed to guide patients from the preparation for surgery to their return home.
The book was presented for the first time at the national conference of Eras Italia Pois (Perioperative Italian Society)—the Italian scientific society dedicated to promoting Eras protocols—held in Verona on September 17-18, organized by the Department of General Surgery at the IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria in Negrar. The volume will then be available at hospitals participating in the Eras protocol and in the members-only area of the Eras website.
The Eras protocol, according to a press release, is based on the idea that the body, during the healing phase, requires a high protein requirement. Without an adequate intake, the body dismantles its own muscles to repair the operated tissue, leading to extreme weakness. Resuming eating early helps counteract the loss of energy and muscle mass associated with surgery and can promote the recovery of normal body functions.
Nutrition thus becomes an integral part of the therapeutic strategy, not simply a secondary support. It's not just a matter of determining when the patient can resume eating, but also of understanding which foods and consistencies are best suited to the different stages of recovery. Nausea, difficulty swallowing, or a poor appetite may occur after surgery. This is why nutritious meals that can be easily adapted to the patient's needs are important: small, frequent meals, priority given to protein sources, and separate fluids, thus replacing the long fasts of the past, lasting more than 24 hours, with an active and personalized nutritional program.
"Although the Eras protocol was developed over twenty-five years ago based on solid scientific evidence designed to respect the patient's physiological homeostasis, it is still struggling to establish itself as standard clinical practice," explains Marco Catarci, President of Eras Italia – Pois. "Implementing it means bringing about a true cultural revolution. Surgery, however minimally invasive and robotic, inevitably alters the anatomy and triggers an inflammatory response. Reducing this response makes the post-operative recovery as smooth and fluid as possible. Furthermore, the Eras protocol is absolutely green: by overcoming the old concept of prolonged fasting and avoiding days of intravenous infusions, one can return to eating early, taking advantage of the natural route."
The 28 recipes in the volume are organized into three phases: "Preparing for Surgery," "Starting from the Plate," and "After Discharge." Each phase, the note details, corresponds to preparations designed to accompany the patient throughout the surgical journey. In the pre-surgery phase, the body is preparing for a demanding effort, and the best way to support it is to provide the right "fuel" and "building blocks." In the immediate post-surgery phase, it is important to avoid prolonged fasting to gradually restore normal digestive function and counteract catabolism, the emergency mechanism in which the body begins to "disassemble" its muscles to obtain the energy needed to cope with the stress induced by the surgery itself. Upon returning home, adequate nutrition is essential to regain lost energy and return to everyday life.
The suggestions include preparations to start the day, such as Greek yogurt with peanut cream and dried fruit, protein-rich dishes like chicken and soy salad, and recipes designed for the phases in which consistency and digestibility become particularly important factors to consider when preparing meals, such as soft cod meatballs and soft protein flan. The cookbook also includes suggestions for a complete diet, with high-energy recipes that combine well-being with flavor, such as mezzeri rigatoni with parmesan cream and lemon zest, mezze maniche with cuttlefish and clam ragù, beef fillet bites with green peppercorns and spinach, and turkey meatloaf with eggs and cheese. The recipes are divided into weekly menus, offering practical support for organizing meals throughout the surgical journey.
"The goal of this project is to demonstrate how cooking can concretely support a patient's recovery journey, transforming nutritional information into simple, enjoyable recipes. We worked closely with medical professionals, learning how to translate every clinical recommendation—such as the right consistency, protein content, and ease of chewing—into dishes that remain enjoyable to eat," commented Marcello Zaccaria, Executive Chef of Academia Barilla.
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