In Sweden: Chilean doctor distinguished with the Gourmand Award for her book “Light regimen for the operated patient”

In a universe of 100,000 publications from 230 countries, Dr. Mónica Martínez Mardónez, member of the INDISA Coloproctology Unit and member of the INDISA Clinic Physicians Association (AMCI), as well as an academic and head of the Surgery Line of the School of Medicine of the Finis Terrae University, was distinguished with the 2023 Gourmand Prize in Sweden, for its book “Light regimen for the operated patient”.

Andrea Riquelme, Journalist.- The professional was recognized with second place in the “Nutrition and health” category and third place in the “University press” category. The book promotes better nutrition for the operated patient, more balanced, being applicable to all patients undergoing surgery with an indication of a light diet.

The Gourmand Awards are annual awards given to the best books in the gastronomic world of each year. These prestigious awards were created in 1995 with the purpose of celebrating and promoting excellence in gastronomic literature. By highlighting the most outstanding books in the culinary and wine fields, the awards encourage creativity, innovation and diversity in the creation of works related to food and drink.

The book “Light diet for the operated patient” aims to put an end to the concept of “food for the sick”, suggesting a more diverse and creative eating pattern, in addition to being nutritionally balanced, thus improving adherence to the new dietary pattern and its impact on the physical and nutritional conditions of the patient undergoing surgery. The publication has the participation of an interdisciplinary team that includes surgeons, coloproctologists, nutritionists, nutritionists and chefs. The nutritional guide is already part of a study that seeks to evaluate the physical and nutritional conditions of patients fed on this diet.

The specialist explains that surgeons perform anastomoses that are intestinal junctions and their recovery requires a non-weathering, non-irritating and low-fat diet. Unfortunately, this means that patients usually eat grilled meat, rice, pasta, potatoes and a couple of cooked fruits. Although in general the indication is to maintain a light diet for 2 to 3 weeks -depending on the type of surgery-, Dr. Martínez comments that sometimes this diet is prolonged longer (either by medical indication or by not suspending the patient), and in the case of pathologies such as cancer, where treatments such as chemotherapy are associated, nutritional deterioration will worsen unless the patient receives a correct diet, both in quantity and quality.