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Category: Healing Tips

Categories
Healing Tips

Healthy Eating Tips for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a time for celebration, gratitude, and, of course, delicious food. However, it can also be a challenge to maintain healthy eating habits amidst the abundance of festive dishes. Here are five practical tips to help you enjoy a nutritious Thanksgiving while still savoring the flavors of the season.

1. Stay Hydrated with CF(Rehydrate)®
Hydration is crucial, especially during the holiday season when rich foods can lead to dehydration. Consider incorporating CF(Rehydrate)®, a clean electrolyte replacement drink designed for medical-grade hydration. Free from artificial colors, flavors, and sugars, CF(Rehydrate)® provides essential electrolytes and hydration without the harmful additives found in many sports drinks. Keeping a bottle handy can help you maintain optimal hydration levels throughout the day, ensuring you feel your best while enjoying the festivities.

2. Practice Mindful Eating
Take the time to savor each bite of your meal. Eating slowly allows you to appreciate the flavors and textures of your food, and it helps you recognize your body’s hunger and fullness cues. By putting your fork down between bites and engaging in conversation, you can enjoy your meal more fully and avoid overeating.

3. Fill Your Plate with Vegetables
Make vegetables the star of your Thanksgiving plate. Aim to fill half your plate with a variety of colorful vegetables, whether roasted, steamed, or in a salad. This not only adds essential nutrients and fiber to your meal but also helps you feel satisfied without overindulging in heavier dishes.

4. Choose Whole Grains
When it comes to side dishes, opt for whole grains like quinoa, brown rice, or whole-grain bread. These options are more nutritious than their refined counterparts and provide additional fiber, which can aid digestion and keep you feeling full longer.

5. Control Portions
It’s easy to get carried away with the abundance of food at Thanksgiving. To help manage portion sizes, consider using smaller plates or bowls. This simple trick can help you serve yourself smaller portions while still allowing you to enjoy a variety of dishes. Remember, you can always go back for seconds if you’re still hungry!

By following these tips, you can enjoy a healthy and satisfying Thanksgiving feast. Remember, the goal is to celebrate and enjoy the company of loved ones while making mindful choices that support your health. Happy Thanksgiving!

Categories
Healing Tips Healthy Lifestyle Nutrition Wellness + Medical Tips

What Vitamins and Minerals Help Support my Immune System?

As cold and flu season is officially upon us, knowing what vitamins and minerals help support immunity isn’t easy. Today, we break down four of the essential vitamins and minerals that help support your immune system. CF(Rehydrate)® IMMUNITY+ was designed with an extra dose of Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Magnesium, and Zinc to strengthen your immune system, especially during cold and flu season. Drinking one serving a day may help prevent you from getting sick this season.

Vitamin D’s Role in the Immune System

Vitamin D plays an essential role in immune health. Its function is to regulate adaptive immune responses. Additionally, Vitamin D deficiency appears to increase the risk of certain illnesses and lower levels of Vitamin D may increase infections. Low Vitamin D levels may make you more susceptible to have recent upper respiratory tract infections when compared to those with sufficient Vitamin D levels. Consuming just one serving of CF(Rehydrate)® IMMUNITY+ meets 25% of the DV of Vitamin D.  Another way to ensure adequate Vitamin D is getting enough sunlight. Just taking a 15 minute break at lunch to get your daily dose of Vitamin D can help prevent deficiency in this essential vitamin.

Vitamin C’ and Your Immune System

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps the formation of collagen. As an antioxidant, Vitamin C protects against environmental oxidative stress. Deficiency in Vitamin C may lead to impaired immunity and increased infection. The way it works is, Vitamin C can readily donate electrons and, in turn, protect from damage by oxidants which makes it an essential part of wound healing. Consuming one serving of CF(Rehydrate)® IMMUNITY+ provides 100% of the DV of Vitamin C. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, especially citrus fruits can also help ensure you are getting enough Vitamin C in your diet.

Magnesium’s Role in the Immune System 

Magnesium is necessary for healthy muscle function and glucose metabolism. This means it plays a vital role in the use of energy-rich compounds. When we exercise, magnesium may be depleted, which can sometimes compromise the ability to perform physical work. Immune function may also temporarily suffer during bouts of prolonged exercise or excessive training. Sometimes, this can lead to infection. Replacing magnesium is crucial and by consuming CF(Rehydrate)® IMMUNITY+ after a workout, you are able to replace some of the magnesium that may have been lost during exercise. Magnesium also has a strong relationship with the immune system. Deficiency in magnesium may lead to an inflammatory response which can be detrimental to our immune health. There is 10% of the DV of Magnesium in one serving of CF(Rehydrate)® IMMUNITY+.

Zinc Can Defend Against Oxidative Stress

We often hear about Zinc being important for our immune healthy, but what role does this mineral play? Zinc strengthens the immune system and promotes healthy cell function. When we have a bacterial infection, plasma zinc levels decline. Dietary zinc (meaning the zinc we get from food or drinks) deficiency predisposes individuals to certain infectious diseases. Zinc also defends against harmful internal macrophages and decreases oxidative stress. There is 25% of the DV of Zinc in one serving of CF(Rehydrate)® IMMUNITY+.

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Now that you have a better idea of the four essential vitamins and minerals that support your immune system—be sure to browse the rest of the CF Nutrition blog for empowering health, wellness, and lifestyle tips. And don’t forget to fuel yourself and your family with the clean, clinical replenishment and immune support of CF(Rehydrate)® immunity +.

Categories
Healing Tips Preparing for Surgery Presurgery Nutrition Wellness + Medical Tips

Clearfast Clinical Nutrition for Surgery

We talk a lot about clinical nutrition here at ClearFast. So, today, we thought we’d break down everything you need to know about this all-important medical term—including what it is and the difference it can make in your health journey. Read on for all you need to know!

What is clinical nutrition?
Simply put, clinical nutrition is nutrition designed to support your medical journey and help you achieve optimal health. A clinical nutrition plan will take into account how your body processes, stores, and discards food for your overall well being—as well as your medical history and the results of any laboratory tests. Clinical nutrition is designed to support you with the necessary vitamins, proteins, minerals, and nutrients your body needs when your health isn’t at its best. It aims to help patients achieve a healthy energy balance and is used in both in- and out-patient healthcare settings.

How is clinical nutrition used?
That’s a great question! While the end-goals of clinical nutrition may vary depending on the patient, they’re always health-based. Some things it can be used to achieve include:

  • Preventing diseases (By boosting “good” cholesterol and reducing unhealthy triglycerides, clinical nutrition can help decrease your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes.)
  • Optimizing your everyday diet
  • Optimizing your nutrient intake
  • Treating/minimizing/managing symptoms of autoimmune diseases or other ailments
  • Increasing the chance of a successful surgery
  • Enhancing/speeding up recovery after surgery

What clinical nutrition options are available?
When it comes to clinical nutrition, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution—but there is an array of options you can explore when it comes to working clinical nutrition into your everyday life. These include:

  • Personal clinical nutritionist: Speak to a clinical nutritionist about optimizing an everyday nutrition plan that’s right for you. This can be an especially great route to go if you suffer from any health ailments or diseases and are struggling to manage your symptoms. A clinical nutritionist will look at your health history, the way your body processes nutrients, any allergies you might have, as well as your symptoms to help you create a custom clinical nutrition program designed to ensure you feel your best. 

  • CFpreop®: Developed by an anesthesiologist, CFpreop is a premium clinical nutrition presurgery drink designed to help your body easily—and quickly—get the nutrients it needs to enter surgery stronger and recover quicker. Each of its science-backed ingredients work together to decrease infection rates, lower feelings of anxiety, reduce post-op nausea and vomiting, and speed up your recovery. The best part? CFpreop uses only high-quality, all-natural ingredients—so you’ll never find dairy, gluten, synthetic ingredients, or artificial sweeteners in any bottle of CFpreop. Plus, its ingredients are ethically sourced and every bottle of CFpreop is formulated at the ClearFast lab in the United States to ensure unparalleled product integrity. 

  • CFprotein®: Our answer to the old, outdated clinical protein drinks that have been on the market for years, CFprotein is a super effective, industry-leading option for patients seeking premium clinical nutrition at an affordable price-point. A clean plant protein drink designed to get patients strong and healthy in the weeks leading up to and following surgery, CFprotein offers a quick, convenient way to give your body the premium clinical nutrition it needs to enter anesthesia stronger and recover faster. Supplementing a healthy diet with CFprotein helps you build a solid nutritional foundation for your upcoming procedure, so you can avoid going into surgery under- or malnourished. While CFpreop is designed to drink in the hours leading up to surgery (helping you get premium clinical nutrition in the critical fasting window), CFprotein is designed to drink in the days, weeks, and months leading up to surgery.

PRO TIP: While ClearFast drinks are anesthesiologist-developed and designed with surgery in mind, they’re also great for working premium clinical nutrition into your everyday nutrition plan—even if you don’t have a procedure on the books! Whether you’re hydrating after a night of overindulging, treating your kiddos to tasty hydration (sans artificial sugars and colored dyes) on the sidelines of a soccer game, or looking for a quick-and-easy way to meet your daily protein requirements—both CFpreop® and CFprotein® have an array of uses that go far beyond the four walls of an operating room. 

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Ready to start working doctor-trusted, patient-preferred premium clinical nutrition into your everyday diet? You can order CFpreop here or CFprotein here.  And, as always, don’t hesitate to reach out to the ClearFast team at support@drinkcf.com if you have any questions at all. We’re always here and happy to help!

Categories
Featured Posts Healing Tips Preparing for Surgery

Pre Surgery Planning & Information

An overnight hospital stay isn’t exactly something you look forward to—but it can be made a little bit easier by packing the right things. From the everyday essentials to the comforts of home, today we’re breaking down everything you should pack when prepping for a hospital stay.    

 

The Essentials: Your Medical Information

Start by gathering all of the essential medical information and ID cards you’ll need. This includes things like:

  • ID cards
  • Insurance cards (PRO TIP: If you’re someone’s dependent, make sure you know the plan holder’s DOB and social security number.)
  • Address Book or phone entry with your emergency contact numbers
  • A list of medications with dosages
  • Any relevant health records

 

If you’re a print person, place hard copies of everything in the list above in a physical folder. If you’re all about digital ease, create a single file you can access from your phone that contains digital copies of everything. Either way, you want to keep everything in one single, safe place for a streamlined, stress-free process. (The last thing you want to have to think about during an overnight hospital stay is where your list of medications is or what in the world happened to your insurance card.)

 

The Comforts of Home: The Things You Need to Relax

The easiest way to make your overnight hospital stay as painless as possible? Bring along the comforts of home. Ask yourself what it is that makes you most relaxed at home (listening to music, doing a crossword, watching your favorite show, listening to an audio book, reading)—and then bring along the items you need to make that happen. This includes things like:

  • Laptop or tablet
  • Chargers
  • Headphones
  • Extra blankets
  • Pillows
  • Magazines
  • Books

 

The Little Things That Make a Big Difference: Must-Haves for a Happy Hospital Stay

From chapstick to your favorite water bottle, there are a number of seemingly small things that can make a major difference in your comfort level during an overnight hospital stay. A few of our favorites include:

 

  • Chapstick
  • Comfortable socks
  • Earplugs
  • Healthy snacks
  • CF PreOp

 

Ready to start packing? Download our complete overnight hospital stay packing list here. 

 

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Aside from a great packing list, the best overnight hospital stays benefit from a tailored presurgery nutrition plan. Learn all about what to eat before you head into the hospital, then order your CF PreOp and CF Protein for a seamless stay and enhanced recovery. And don’t hesitate to reach out to the ClearFast team at support@drinkcf.com if you have any questions at all! 

Categories
Healing Tips Home Preparing for Surgery

Preparing for Orthopedic Surgery: 5 Crucial Steps to Take for a Successful Procedure

preparing for orthopedic surgery

While every surgery requires preparation, preparing for orthopedic surgery is in a league of its own. With limited mobility and prolonged recovery periods, the thought of going under for orthopedic surgery can be daunting—especially for those who are typically very active and independent. Fortunately, there are some helpful steps you can take in advance to ensure your surgery is successful and your recovery is as smooth (and as fast!) as possible. Today, then, we’re breaking down our top 5 pro tips for preparing for orthopedic surgery. Read on for an empowered operation. 


  1. Get educated about your surgery.

A successful surgery always starts with patient empowerment. This means arming yourself with the information you need to make smart choices and address any lingering issues regarding your upcoming procedure. We recommend taking some time to sit down and write out a list of questions to ask your surgeon before you get to your preop appointment. Have your questions prepared—and make sure you bring along a pen and paper or a device to record your doctor’s answers. Questions you may want to ask include: 

  • What time will I need to arrive for my surgery?
  • What is the overall goal of the surgery?
  • How will the surgery be performed, and who will be performing it?
  • Have you performed this surgery before and, if so, what were the results?
  • What type of anesthesia will I be administered, and who will be administering it?
  • Will I need to stop taking my medications before my surgery and, if so, when should I stop?
  • Will I be given a prescription for pain meds so I can pick those up in advance? 
  • What are the possible risks of my operation?
  • How long will the procedure take?
  • What can I expect to experience during my recovery period?
  • When can I expect to start physical therapy?

  1. Educate your physician about your personal state. 

When it comes to preparing for orthopedic surgery, education goes both ways. While doctors do their absolute best to give every case the attention it deserves, they are also human—being overworked or having a packed schedule might lead to some things slipping through the cracks. As a patient, be your own advocate by coming prepared to your preop appointment with all of the information your doctor may need to perform a successful orthopedic surgery. This includes: 


  • A clear outline of your medical history
  • A clear outline of your family history
  • A list of any allergies, sensitivities, or reactions to medications
  • Information about how you’ve responded to anesthesia in the past, if applicable
  • A list of your current medications and the daily dosage
  • Any x-rays, lab tests, or notes that pertain to your current condition
  • Your pharmacy’s address and phone number

  1. Work on your fitness and flexibility.

While it’s tempting to want to wait until after your surgery to start getting active, working on your fitness and flexibility before you go under the knife is one of the most effective ways to shorten your recovery period. Being physically fit before an orthopedic procedure will also help you get through physical therapy more seamlessly after surgery. If possible, contact your physical therapist’s office ahead of time and ask if they can offer up notes on a presurgery routine for your specific type of orthopedic surgery. Work with resistance bands, a Bosu ball, or any other tools they recommend that help increase flexibility and strength.


  1. Maintain or achieve a healthy weight. 

Being overweight can put a ton of undue pressure on your joints. Getting healthy and achieving (or maintaining) a healthy BMI before your procedure then, is one of the most effective things you can do to ensure a successful surgery and recovery. We recommend working CF Protein, our plant-based protein drink, into your presurgery nutrition plan—it’s a smart, simple way to ensure you’re getting the specific type of nourishment and minerals your body requires before going into surgery without overeating. In addition, opt for a diet that incorporates lots of fiber, Omega 3, and complex carbs—and reduce your intake of simple sugars and meats with a high fat content. 


  1. Plan for your recovery. 

Who’s going to help you recover? Who will drive you places? Is your home or recovery location going to be functional for you? Have you picked up any necessary prescriptions in advance? These are all things to take note of before you head into surgery so you’re not stuck scrambling as you recover. If your home is multiple stories, you may want to gather everything you’ll need and prepare a recovery space on one single floor so you don’t have to tackle the stairs every day. You can also move overhead, hard-to-reach kitchen and bathroom items onto an easy-to-reach counter space. And be sure to remove any tripping hazards (rugs, cords, etc.) from high-traffic areas. In addition, consider nutritional steps you can take to make your recovery easier. We recommend ordering ClearFast PreOp, our anesthesiologist-developed presurgery drink that’s specifically designed to reduce your risk of surgical infection, reduce post-op nausea and vomiting, and shorten your recovery period. Be sure to order enough bottles for both your preparation and recovery period—and refrigerate your ClearFast PreOp beforehand for optimal taste!


(Psst…wondering if ClearFast PreOp is safe to drink if your doctor told you to fast before surgery? As long as you finish your final bottle two hours before your surgery, it’s not only safe—it’s actual proven to lead to safer surgeries than fasting all together. Learn more about why that’s the case here!)


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Overall, preparing for orthopedic surgery is all about taking proactive steps to ensure a safe procedure and a strong recovery. As part of this, we recommend talking to your doctor about replacing the from-midnight fast with a ClearFast PreOp liquid fast instead. With her approval, you can order ClearFast Preop here. And, as always, don’t hesitate to reach out to the ClearFast team at support@drinkcf.com if you have any questions at all! 

Categories
Healing Tips

3 Ways to Get Back to Your Life After Surgery

Improving surgery recovery

We’ll let you in on a secret: what happens after your surgery has everything to do with what happens before your surgery. When it comes to improving surgery recovery, it’s all about taking proactive, proven steps before you go under under the knife to ensure you recover as fast and strong as possible. Today, then, we’re talking our top 3 tips for getting back to life after surgery. Read on…and get ready for a great recovery! 


  1. Prepare for your recovery before going under the knife.

A great recovery starts with proper preparation. There are three major steps you can take for improving surgery recovery: 


  • Make the behavioral changes you need to: Whether it’s quitting smoking or starting to exercise, start making the behavioral changes you need to in the months and weeks leading up to your surgery. Remember: surgery is like an athletic event: you want to show up in as strong and healthy of a state as possible in order to decrease your risk of complications and increase your chance for a great recovery.


  • Do your research:  Surgery can be scary—so it’s natural to want to avoid doing research beforehand. But, the better prepared and informed you are, the better your chances are for improving surgery recovery through some of the information you pick up along the way. Educate yourself about what your recovery could be like by talking to your doctor and doing your own research. Then, put steps in place to prepare for that recovery experience.

  1. Have a support system in place.

Setting up a support system is an absolutely crucial step for improving surgery recovery and getting back to your life. 


  • Ask for help: If you’re going to need help during your recovery, be sure to ask the people who can help you before getting home from your procedure. It’s natural to not want to feel like a burden, but the best way to make your recovery a seamless one for both you and those around you is to be clear about your needs in as far advance as possible so everyone has ample time to plan. 
  • Create a schedule: Create a clear calendar, list, or schedule to help your support system along the way. Write down anything you may need them to do and when, any important information they’ll need to have (the location of the surgery center, the pharmacy you use, your surgeon’s name, your home alarm code, etc.). Make sure you’ve listed out your needs—as well as the people, places, and things they need to know about.

  1. Give your body what it needs.

There’s no more important surgery-prep step than taking care of your body. Below are three main things you can give your body for an improved recovery.


  • Time: Whether it’s taking time off of work or taking a few extra days before getting back to activity, make sure you give your body the time it needs to heal. Any procedure—no matter how minor it may seem—puts a major amount of stress on the body. Even if you’re feeling great a day or two after, force yourself to take it easy, as getting back to activity too quick can often result in an extended recovery period later on. 

  • Rehab and exercise: From a full-blown physical therapy plan to light at-home exercise, talk to your doctor before your surgery to understand what your rehab plan should look like. Order any tools you might need (like resistance bands) beforehand and be prepared to ease back into activity slowly and on a flexible schedule (you never know what your body will and won’t allow after surgery).

  • Nutrition and hydration: Modern medical research shows that proper presurgery nutrition plays a major role in helping you get back to life after a procedure. Rather than the old-school fasting from midnight approach, talk to your doctor about drinking ClearFast in the hours leading up to your procedure for a safer surgery and enhanced recovery. (Psst…while ClearFast was developed by an anesthesiologist for the hours leading up to your procedure, our all-new plant protein drink, CF Protein, is specifically designed for the days and weeks leading up to your procedure. Keep an eye out for CF Protein’s upcoming release!)

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Overall, when it comes to improving surgery recovery, proactivity and proper nutrition are your best friends. Ready to get back to your life faster after your procedure? You can order your ClearFast PreOp Drink here. And don’t hesitate to reach out to the ClearFast team at support@drinkcf.com if you have any questions at all.

Categories
Healing Tips Presurgery Nutrition

What Should I Do With My Leftover ClearFast? The Top 4 Non-Surgery Uses for Carbohydrate Drinks

uses for carbohydrate drinks clearfast

Turns out, Thanksgiving leftovers aren’t the only leftovers worth getting creative with. There are lots of reasons you might have a spare bottle of the ClearFast carbohydrate beverage in your fridge—whether you bought extra bottles on purpose like so many of our customers do, or simply didn’t use as much of our presurgery drink as you thought you would before your procedure—but the important thing is you don’t let all of that extra hydration go to waste. Today, we’re talking what to do with your extra ClearFast bottles and offering up some top non-surgery uses for carbohydrate drinks. 

 

  1. Exercise Hydration

Exercise hydration is probably one of the most popular uses for carbohydrate drinks. If you’re planning to hit the gym as you prep for holiday season (bring on the pecan pie!), you’ll lose water and electrolytes as you sweat. Having that leftover ClearFast either before or after your workout, then, is a great way to refuel your body with the electrolytes it needs for hydration and complex carbohydrates it needs for energy. Plus, because ClearFast is formulated as a presurgery drink, it offers a level of medical-grade hydration you won’t find anywhere else (especially in sugary sports drinks that are chock-full of simple sugars and harmful colored dyes). Psst…planning on taking your fitness commitment to the next level and running a holiday marathon? Check out our post on using ClearFast to carb-load for optimal athletic performance. 

 

  1. Cold & Flu

When it comes to uses for carbohydrate drinks, this one is so powerful—and yet so often overlooked. After all, Mom always said, “fluids, fluids, fluids”—and we couldn’t agree more. If you find yourself feeling a bit under the weather during these colder months, use that extra bottle of the ClearFast carbohydrate beverage to get medical-grade hydration and liquid nourishment. When you’re sick, your appetite tends to be really suppressed—which is why a presurgery drink like ClearFast is the perfect solution for ensuring your body gets the nourishment, minerals, and healing properties it needs…without having to struggle to keep down a heavy meal. 

 

  1. Before or After a Plane Flight

Ever walk off the plane and feel like you’ve been traveling through the desert for days? That’s because of the cold, dry recycled air (no, thank you). Using that leftover bottle of the ClearFast enhanced recovery drink to combat the dehydration that occurs as a result of plane rides, then, is one of our favorite non-surgery uses for carbohydrate drinks. The selenium in ClearFast also helps promote healthy immune function, so you can rest easy knowing you’re not only hydrated, but—even more importantly—extra protected from that germ-laden tray table and seat-belt buckle. 

 

  1. Hangover Cure

The holidays are coming up and, for many us, that can mean we’re going to imbibe a bit (eggnog, anyone?). We all know that having too much to drink can cause some serious dehydration—and that dehydration is the main cause of those dreaded hangovers. If you happen to have a few too many glasses of bubbly at that upcoming holiday party, not to worry—simply drink that chilled leftover bottle of ClearFast first thing in the morning to quickly kick off your recovery and rehydration. 

 

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Overall, when it comes to non-surgery uses for carbohydrate drinks, it’s all about hydration and liquid nourishment. Whether you’re traveling on a plane to your holiday destination, working hard to meet your pre-holiday fitness goal, or are simply feeling a bit under the weather as the temperatures drop, there are tons of times that the minerals, nutrients, and electrolytes in that spare bottle of ClearFast you have sitting in your fridge will save the day. And, when you’re ready to stock back up, you can order your ClearFast Presurgery Drink here!

Categories
Healing Tips Preparing for Surgery Wellness + Medical Tips

When Water Won’t Cut It: 5 Times Your Body Needs a Recovery Drink

ClearFast recovery drink

When it comes to staying hydrated, the general population isn’t exactly knocking it out of the park. In fact, according to MedicalDaily.com, 75% of Americans may be chronically dehydrated (someone pass the water!). Though it’s a state three-quarters of us are in at any given time, being dehydrated has far more of an impact on your health than you may realize—and this is especially true when it comes to dehydration before surgery. Today, then, we’re talking all you need to know about how dehydration before surgery affects you and, more importantly, how to avoid it. Read on….and drink up!

 

What exactly is dehydration?

This may seem like a no brainer, but dehydration is more than just being parched (and feeling like you’d kill for a tall glass of ice water!). It occurs when more water and fluid leaves the body than enters it. Ready for some surprising stats and facts about water consumption and dehydration? We’ve rounded up our favorites below:

 

  • According to The New York Times, “Water is the single most important substance we consume. You can survive for about two months without food, but you would die in about seven days without water.” 
  • Even mild dehydration can affect your ability to think clearly. 
  • Dizziness, rapid heart rate, sleepiness, lack of energy, and irritability can all be signs of dehydration. 
  • Our thirst mechanism is specifically designed to tell us when our body needs to increase our fluid intake. If you’re thirsty, you’re likely already dehydrated. 
  • According to Medical Daily.com “60 percent of our bodies is composed of water, 75 percent in our muscles, 85 percent in our brains…”

 

How does dehydration before surgery affect me? 

Even the smallest amount of dehydration before surgery can have an impact on your body’s ability to go under (and wake up from) anesthesia in the strongest state possible. When you’re getting ready to go under the knife, you’re already anxious (and probably overwhelmed)—add dehydrated cells into the mix, and your body isn’t exactly in an ideal state to take on the stress of surgery. The effects of dehydration before surgery include:

 

  • Painful IV “Sticks”: Dehydration leads to reduced blood flow. This can often mean it takes multiple, painful IV sticks for a nurse to find a “good” vein (the last thing you want to experience when you’re already stressed and worried before surgery). 

 

 

 

 

 

  • An Increased Risk of Surgical Complications: It’s no surprise that entering into surgery in a weakened state can set the stage for surgical complications and a tough recovery. In fact, according to a PubMed.gov medical study, “Preoperative dehydration is associated with increased rates of postoperative ARF, MI, and cardiac arrest.”  

 

 

Is it OK to hydrate before surgery?

While you should always follow your doctor’s instructions, more and more modern medical research is pointing to the fact that medical professionals should do away with the “no food or drink after midnight” rule and, instead, allow patients to safely hydrate and nourish up to two hours before surgery. (There are a number of reasons this is the case, and we break them all down here.) The important thing to note is that the “no food or drink after midnight” rule was never evidence-based, while modern instructions to hydrate and nourish before surgery are based on Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (or ERAS®) programs, which consist of evidence-based protocols that are proven to enhance a patient’s recovery and make for an easier, safer surgery all together.  

 

If my doctor says it’s OK, how do I safely hydrate before surgery? 

If you’re ready to kick dehydration before surgery to the curb, start by talking to your doctor about consuming a safe, trusted presurgery drink. Enhanced recovery protocols call for a clear liquid that contains at least 45 grams of complex carbs and no simple sugars like you’d find in sports drinks (more on why sports drinks don’t cut it for curbing dehydration before surgery here). The drink should also have an osmolarity level that allows for timely gastric emptying (in other words, the beverage needs to be formulated to clear from your stomach fast). 

 

ClearFast is the only domestically produced presurgery drink of this kind: it’s rich in maltodextrins and healing properties (zinc & L-citrulline), is clear and colorless, is free of simple sugars and colored dyes (like those found in sports drinks), is designed to clear from your stomach fast (hence the name), and is trusted by luminary hospitals across the US, who regularly use ClearFast as a key part of hydrating patients before surgery. 

 

PRO TIP: If you’re ready to hydrate before surgery with ClearFast, the key is to ensure you follow your doctor’s orders and the ClearFast drinking instructions. You always want to make sure you’ve consumed your last bottle of ClearFast at least two hours before surgery. We recommend chilling ClearFast overnight before drinking for an even tastier treat!

 

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Overall, though the effects of dehydration before surgery are serious, it’s also relatively easy to avoid with the right, doctor-approved presugery drink. If you’re ready for a stress-free, complication-free surgery (and a fast recovery!), you can order your ClearFast Recovery Drink here. And, as always, don’t hesitate to reach out to the ClearFast team at support@drinkcf.com if you have any questions at all.



Categories
Healing Tips Preparing for Surgery Presurgery Nutrition

The Ultimate Life Hack for Quick Healing: Using ClearFast For a Fast Surgery Recovery

ClearFast for surgery recovery

When it comes to going under anesthesia, we all want the same thing: a successful procedure and a fast surgery recovery. As much as we love a great hospital bed (hint: not at all), we have to admit there’s nothing better than getting home and starting on the recovery process! Today, then, we’re breaking down all you need to know about using ClearFast for a fast surgery recovery and speedy healing process. We’ll cover: 

 

 

  • Using ClearFast after your surgery
  • Combining ClearFast with healthy meals
  • The ingredients in ClearFast that make for a fast surgery recovery
  • Other life hacks ClearFast can be used for 

 

 

Now, let’s dig in…

 

Can I have ClearFast after surgery?

You may know by now that ClearFast is used as a presurgery drink for a less stressful and overall safer surgery experience. But, don’t throw out those leftover ClearFast bottles just because your procedure is over! ClearFast can also be used after your procedure for an enhanced healing process and fast surgery recovery.  We recommend having a chilled bottle of ClearFast right when you get home from the hospital. Your stomach may still be a bit rocky from the anesthesia meds, which means you likely won’t be ready for solid foods right away. Drinking ClearFast after your surgery, then, is a great way to ensure your body is getting medical-grade hydration and nutrition without upsetting your stomach. 

 

Can I replace meals with ClearFast while I heal? 

Your doctor will make specific recommendations regarding when it’s safe to go back on solid food. Be sure you follow those instructions and, remember, ClearFast doesn’t have protein and fat—so it’s not a long-term meal replacement. Instead, we recommend mixing ClearFast with safe, doctor-recommended solid foods to ensure you’re getting proper nutrition. When combined with healthy meals, ClearFast is a super powerful tool for fast surgery recovery. 

 

What’s in ClearFast, and how does it make for fast surgery recovery?

In addition to being clear and colorless (so it contains are ZERO harmful dyes) and gluten-free (bonus!), ClearFast is chock-full of all-natural ingredients that make for a potent, effective and safe recovery drink. These include: 

 

  • Electrolytes: For optimal hydration
  • Zinc and L-Citrulline: Properties that help heal
  • Vitamin A: To support health and tissue function
  • Selenium: A trace mineral that acts as an antioxidant and contributes to healthy immune function. 
  • Complex carbs: For extended energy and nutrition

 

Are there other uses for ClearFast that might be helpful to know about? 

Of course there are! The great thing about the ClearFast presurgery drink is that it’s not just for procedures and fast surgery recovery. It can also help when you’re on the mend from a number of things, like: colds, flu, hot yoga sessions, marathons…or even hangovers! (Psst…you can learn more about using ClearFast for hydrating fast for a number of life events here.)

 

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Overall, fast surgery recovery is all about feeding your body the minerals and electrolytes it needs to heal itself in a healthy and fast manner. Because it’s so easy to drink on a finicky stomach (and is free of harmful dyes and unnatural ingredients), ClearFast is the perfect post-surgery drink for those who want to speed up their recovery process and get back to their everyday life with a bang! 

 

If you’re ready for fast surgery recovery, you can order your ClearFast Presurgery Drink here. And, as always, don’t hesitate to reach out to the ClearFast team at support@drinkcf.com if you have any questions at all.

Categories
Healing Tips

Sick After Anesthesia? Here’s How to Reduce Post-Op Nausea & Vomiting

sick after anesthesia

If you’re someone who gets sick after anesthesia, you know just how frustrating it can be to wake up from surgery nauseous and vomiting—especially when all you want to do is get discharged and head home for your recovery. When we created ClearFast, our number-one goal was to formulate a product that would make for safer, less stressful surgeries for patients around the world—and reducing post-op nausea and vomiting was a huge part of that goal. Today, then, we’re breaking down all you need to know about this common phenomenon and how to avoid getting sick after anesthesia the next time you go under the knife. We’ll cover: 

  • How common it is to get sick after anesthesia
  • What causes contribute to getting sick after anesthesia, including the role fasting-from-midnight plays in making you sick
  • How to reduce your risk of getting sick after anesthesia
  • How to use the ClearFast Preop Drink to drastically reduce your chances of getting sick after anesthesia

Now, let’s dig in…

Is it common to get sick after anesthesia?

Unfortunately, getting sick after anesthesia is extremely common. In fact, according to an article published in Continuing Education in Anaesthesia Critical Care & Pain, one in three patients suffer from post-op nausea and vomiting (or PONV). 

What causes me to get sick after anesthesia? 

The key causes of PONV are two-fold: First, prolonged fasting (from the old-school instruction to “fast from midnight”) causes an unnecessary build-up of stomach acid. These stomach acids are one major cause of PONV. Second, the anesthesia drugs themselves—taken on an empty stomach—cause patients to get sick upon waking. Most of us can’t even take an ibuprofen on an empty stomach without getting nauseous, so imagine what taking heavy anesthesia drugs does to your system after you haven’t had anything to eat or drink since midnight! Basically, you’re pumping your body full of powerful drugs with nothing but stomach acid in your stomach—it’s a clear recipe for vomiting and nausea upon waking from surgery….and an extended hospital stay, which no one wants!

How do I reduce my risk of getting sick after anesthesia? 

We recommend asking your doctor about replacing the old-school fasting-from-midnight method with a good fluid fast instead (you can read more about why fasting-from-midnight is outdated and unnecessary here). This will ensure your stomach isn’t empty—and isn’t producing all of those nasty stomach acids that make you sick—when you’re administered the anesthesia. But not just any fluid will do—research shows that you need something rich in complex carbs that will act as a liquid food. But, in order to be safe for surgery, the liquid also needs to be clear and colorless and free of simple sugars (sorry, sports drinks!). 

Enter: ClearFast Preop Drink! ClearFast is the only preop drink of its kind that’s safe for surgery, free of simple sugars, and is specifically formulated to reduce your risk of getting sick after anesthesia. Plus, ClearFast is gluten-free, contains all natural ingredients, is free of harmful colored dyes and preservatives, and is chock-full of a number of other ingredients that can are beneficial to your surgery experience, including: 

  • Electrolytes (for optimal hydration)
  • Zinc and L-Citrulline (properties that help heal)
  • Vitamin A (supports health and tissue function)
  • Selenium (a trace mineral that acts as an antioxidant and contributes to healthy immune function)

Does the ClearFast Preop Drink work for patients who usually get sick after anesthesia, and how do I take it? 

Absolutely! ClearFast has received a number of rave reviews from patients who normally get sick after anesthesia who report that, after taking ClearFast, they didn’t experience the post-op nausea and vomiting they normally do. In fact, L.C. said, “[ClearFast PreOp] really made the difference in my recovery. I felt alert and didn’t have nausea when I awoke from surgery. My friends were so impressed by my process, that 2 of them immediately scheduled their procedures after mine. Their results were just as amazing.”

If your doctor says it’s OK to take ClearFast before your surgery, you can check out our post on how to use ClearFast here, or even use our ClearFast calculator to determine when and how to take ClearFast before your surgery. (PRO TIP: We recommend chilling ClearFast overnight to make it even tastier!) 

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Overall, if you’re tired of getting sick after anesthesia and are looking for a smart, simple, science-based solution for an easier recovery and quicker hospital discharge, ClearFast is your new best friend! You can order your ClearFast Presurgery Drink here. And, as always, don’t hesitate to reach out to the ClearFast team at support@drinkcf.com if you have any questions at all. We’re always here and happy to help!

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