Supercharge Recovery from Surgery and More (feat. Zora Benhamou)

What if you could bounce back from surgery or an injury faster, stronger, and healthier than ever? 

In this Salad with a Side of Fries episode, gerontologist and biohacker Zora Benhamou joins health coach Jenn Trepeck for a deep dive into surgery and injury recovery, biohacks, and minimizing scars—the essential nutrients for optimizing your healing journey post surgery. Together, they bust myths around menopause, aging, and nutrition while unpacking the science behind inflammation reduction, amino acid supplementation, peptide therapy, and more. From osteoporosis prevention to scar management, Zora shares expert strategies to supercharge recovery and reclaim vitality at any age. Whether preparing for surgery or simply wanting to boost your longevity and performance, this conversation delivers actionable tools for real-life wellness.

The Salad With a Side of Fries podcast is hosted by Jenn Trepeck, who discusses wellness and weight loss for real life, clearing up the myths, misinformation, bad science & marketing surrounding our nutrition knowledge and the food industry. Let’s dive into wellness and weight loss for real life, including drinking, eating out, and skipping the grocery store.

IN THIS EPISODE: 

• (05:15) Zora’s story of two hip replacements (in three months) and super-charged surgery recovery through muscle maintenance and protein intake
• (11:02) Delaying surgery until quality of life is significantly impacted is deeply a personal decision
• (16:47) Pre-surgery mental preparation and muscle building/maintenance within mobility limits
• (20:00) Nutrition focus: high protein intake, amino acids, whole foods and nutrient-rich supplements for surgery recovery
• (22:34) Long-term nutritional deficiencies contribute to bone health issues; commitment to nutrition needed, and a radiation protection hack
• (29:22) Managing surgery recovery by reducing inflammation
• (36:33) Discussion of post-surgery nutrition focuses on protein, collagen, anti-inflammatory foods and scar treatments
• (44:32) Recovery strategies apply to various surgeries, and having a positive mindset for surgery recovery

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Pre-surgery muscle maintenance is critical. Build and maintain muscle mass before surgery through exercise, even with limited mobility, to enhance surgery recovery and quality of life before and after surgery.
• Increase protein intake before and after surgery to support muscle growth, tissue repair, and ligament recovery.
• Eliminate processed foods and prioritize whole foods to reduce inflammation and aid healing. Use supplements for radiation protection.
• To improve scar texture and appearance, apply copper peptides, rosehip oil, and silicone tape, and consider micro needling or lasers.

QUOTES: 

• (17:27) “Going into that surgery with muscle mass and strength is so important for your recovery. That is key number one.” - Zora Benhamou
• (22:49) “When our body is not getting all the nutrients it needs to function, it will pull them from our bones.” - Jenn Trepeck
• (35:59) “In post-op procedures, because of various things, people often are not hungry, but we need nutrients to heal.” - Jenn Trepeck
• (45:34) “Try to turn it around to a positive and say, this is a great time to work on my health, focus on recovery, and build a better person. - Zora  Benhamou
• (46:20) "It's never too late to start."  - Jenn Trepeck

RESOURCES:

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Jenn’s Free Menu Plan

A Salad With a Side of Fries

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