Dietary Treatment for Severe Burns

Healing from severe burns requires consuming higher amounts of foods in order to provide vitamins and nutrients to the affected areas. According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, burn patients will need to go on a high-protein recovery diet that also contains plenty of carbohydrates and no more than 30 percent of fat from your total daily calorie consumption. Speak to your dietitian to ensure the safety and effectiveness of your diet.

Protein

• Protein is essential for rebuilding muscle and repairing tissue after exercise, and it works just as well if you have severe burns. According to Dr. Andrew M. Munster, author of "Severe Burns," your body requires more than the recommended dietary allowance of 63g of protein for males ages 25 to 50, and 50g for females 25 to 50. Red meat, poultry, fish, nuts, seeds, dairy and eggs all provide protein, with the highest amounts found in fish. Salmon, sardines, anchovies and tuna have 20 to 26g of protein. Dairy is also an excellent source of protein. But whole milk also contains high amounts of saturated fat, so drink low-fat or nonfat milk instead.

Carbohydrates

• According to "Severe Burns," carbohydrates are used as energy during the burn-healing process. Consuming carbs allows your body to use protein for muscle-building rather than energy for wound-healing. Carbohydrates can be broken down into two categories: simple and complex. Although simple carbohydrates---found in refined sugar and foods that contain white flour---provide energy, they are converted into sugar quickly and have little nutritional value. Because of the speedy breakdown rate, you will need to consume more of it. So eat complex carbohydrates found in whole grain wheat, oat bran, cereal and oatmeal. Complex carbohydrates break down slower and provide more nutrients.

Multivitamins

• Zinc and iron are essential vitamins that help you recover from burn wounds, according to "Total Burn Care." Zinc operates similarly to protein as it assists in tissue repair and heals wounds. The recommended daily allowance for zinc is 11mg for males older than 19, and 8mg for females older than 19, according to the National Institutes of Health. Iron carries oxygen to your cells, which is important for cell regeneration, according to "Total Burn Care." Men between the ages of 19 and 50 need 8mg of iron daily, and women in that age range need 18mg.