Foods to Avoid With an Open Wound

Your diet can have a direct effect on the speed and efficiency with which you heal from an open wound. Food low in nutrients, such as sodas and fast or processed foods, can delay healing and in some cases, make the wound worse. Some wounds are in places that do not allow for a wide variety of foods, so be sure to research the type of wound you have and what dietary steps you can take to heal faster.

If you have a canker sore, you should avoid eating spicy or acidic foods, such as tomatoes or lemons, as well as anything sharp, such as nuts or potato chips. These foods aggravate the sore, increasing pain and duration.

If you have a stomach or intestinal sore, such as an ulcer, you should avoid five main main foods. These are caffeine, spicy foods, alcohol and soda, fast food, and citrus fruits. All of these foods are high in acid, fats and oils that can be painful or harmful to pre-existing gastrointestinal problems.

If you have a cold sore, you should not eat foods that contain high levels of arginine, according to 3daycoldsorecure.com. Arginine is a protein compound necessary for the herpes virus to produces new sores. These are foods such as nuts, seeds, chocolate, oats, dried beans, wheat and white flour, and dried beans. You should, however, eat foods that are high in lysine, which include eggs, fish, chicken, lamb, and beef, dairy products, beets, avocado, apricots, mangoes, apples, and figs.

If you have an open wound on your skin from a fall, surgery or other reasons, you need to eat foods that are high in nutrients. Avoid "nutrient empty" foods, such as broth, soda and processed foods. Instead eat whole foods like fruits and vegetables, whole grains, dairy, eggs and lean meats.