Diet and food guidance for paraplegia

Good nutrition supports healing, skin health and energy for people with paraplegia. A dietitian can tailor the plan, as needs change with activity and weight.

Key goals

• Maintain a healthy weight: weight gain makes transfers and skin care harder, and weight loss weakens the skin and muscles
• Enough protein: dal, eggs, dairy, fish, chicken and tofu help skin and wound healing
• Fibre and fluids: whole grains, vegetables, fruit and plenty of water help bowel regularity. A bowel routine is part of care.
• Calcium and vitamin D: bone density falls after spinal injury. Dairy, ragi, greens and sensible sun exposure help. Supplements as advised.
• Iron and vitamin C for skin and blood health
• Fluids: about 2 litres a day unless told otherwise. This helps lower urine infection risk.

Limit

• Excess sugar, refined carbohydrates and fried food
• Salty food, as it can raise blood pressure
• Alcohol
• Caffeine if it irritates the bladder

Watch

Constipation, weight change, and food-related bladder problems. Report loss of appetite or unplanned weight loss.

Ayurvedic view

Traditional advice favours warm, freshly cooked, nourishing food with ghee or sesame oil in moderation, and avoids dry, cold and stale food. This is a supportive framework.

See a doctor if you lose weight, have a skin sore that does not heal, or struggle with constipation.

When to get help

Contact your rehabilitation doctor or spinal injury centre if you notice new weakness, skin redness, fever, burning urine, new pain or spasms that interfere with daily life. Call 112 for sudden severe headache with pounding heart, chest pain or breathlessness.

Remember

Protein, fibre, fluids and a steady weight protect skin, bowels and bones.