Nutrition Tips for Post-Burn Injury Patients

Recovery from a burn injury comes with specific nutritional requirements. Proper nutrition in burns care can prevent the body from breaking down muscle for energy. Without it, burn patients are more prone to infections and weight loss. This is why nutrition is a significant component of any burn care strategy.  

Why Nutrition Is So Critical  

A 2017 study published in Burns & Trauma explains that severe burn injuries trigger a hypermetabolic state. The metabolic rates can be twice as high as before the injury.  

All trauma triggers a strong response that requires more energy. Anyone experiencing it will have an increase in body temperature and hypermetabolism. The nutritional requirement for burn patients is more extensive, however. The sustained healing can trigger a cascading effect that leads to the need for more calories. 

What Happens If You Don't Manage Nutrition in Burns?  

The burn injury can lead to a loss of muscle mass and a significant drop in body weight without adjusting nutrition. A 2011 report published by The Surgical Clinics of North America states that losing:  

• 10 percent of body mass can have a severe impact on the immune system  

• 20 percent of body mass can decrease wound healing  

• 30 percent of body mass will lead to severe infections  

• 40 percent of body mass can cause death  

Someone with severe burn injuries can lose as much as one-quarter of their body weight in the first three weeks. For proper burn dietary management, adults need at least 25 kilocalories per kilogram of body weight plus an additional 40 kilocalories per percent of burn surface each day to help them heal.    

Maintaining proper nutrition in burns care throughout the healing process is an adjustment. It is up to you to control the nutrition intake once a burn patient is home, which can be an adjustment. While in the hospital, the care team may provide additional nutrition through tube feedings. This delivers a high-protein liquid supplement to support healing.  

The hypermetabolic response is stronger with a burn injury than with any other injury. It requires an aggressive approach to nutrition. It is not just eating more; the diet must include the right foods to help the body fight infection and promote wound healing.  

Sustaining Nutrition at Home  

Once a burn patient is home, it is critical to remember that their body needs fewer calories than when hospitalized. That can be a difficult adjustment to make, as well. While in the hospital, survivors eat large meals, so their appetite will be big. Once home, you must focus more on a balanced diet and avoid empty calories, processed foods, and sugar. Instead, provide lean meats, whole grains, and fruits and vegetables.  

The level of healing will help you determine how to focus on nutrition. For instance, survivors will need more protein if the burn wounds are still open. This is because the body breaks protein down into amino acids that serve as building blocks for new tissue.  

Tips for Eating Right  

The key is to find what foods help burns heal and follow the healthcare team's recommendations. Consider some tips to help you balance a burn patient's nutrition once they leave the hospital.  

• A high-protein diet for burn patients is essential. Every meal and snack should include protein. Protein not only helps wounds heal, but it is also necessary to build muscle. The body loses protein naturally during the healing process because it breaks down muscle for energy. Eating protein will help replenish what is lost.  

• Include carbohydrates – Carbs get a bad rap, but they are a necessary part of any diet, especially after trauma. Carbohydrates provide glucose that supports healing. In addition, eating carbs can keep the body from looking for other energy sources like breaking down muscle.  

• Now is the time to reduce the size of meals and lower calorie intake. At this point, the focus is on nutrition more than quantity.  

• Keep something with you to eat wherever you go. Fruit is an excellent option because it offers natural sugar for energy and fiber to help fill the patient up. Avoid sugary drinks and candy you might buy on the go because you have nothing else.  

• Ensure they drink lots of water throughout the day, as long as a doctor clears water intake. Water will help manage hunger and keep you hydrated.  

• Make meals and snacks colorful. Also, don't be afraid to spice things up. Experiment with different herbs and spices to find their favorites. 

Carefully examine hunger, too. People only sometimes eat because they are hungry. Some eat because they are bored or unhappy. Healing is a difficult time. Keep a food log to track your eating and look for patterns that might indicate you are eating for the wrong reasons.  

For more nutrition information, consult a dietitian from your local burn center to create a diet for healing burns on the skin.