Heal Better, Heal Faster, Lynn Slovak
Heal Better, Heal Faster
Using Food to Flourish After Surgery
Lynn Slovak
Published by Mary Egan Publishing
3 August 2026
Hardback, 216pp, RRP $55.00
ISBN: 978-1-991436-04-7
Recover faster. Feel stronger. Eat better.
Recovering from surgery can be one of the most physically and emotionally challenging times of your life – and yet the critical role that good nutrition plays is often overlooked. Heal Better, Heal Faster was written to change that, and is a practical, evidence-based guide to using simple, nourishing food to support and accelerate your recovery.
Written by holistic nutritionist Lynn Slovak after a serious injury involving two major surgeries, this book blends decades of clinical insight with traditional wisdom and the latest nutritional science. Inside, you’ll learn how to feed your body exactly what it needs to heal wounds, reduce inflammation, support your immune system, and rebuild strength – as well as which foods to avoid, as they can slow the healing process.
Plus there are easy meal ideas, restorative recipes, and smart kitchen strategies to take the stress out of eating well, even when your energy is low.
Whether you’re preparing for surgery, recovering at home, or caring for someone you love, this book offers the kind of clear, practical, and easy-to-follow support that can make a real difference, and help you to feel more confident, more resilient, and more in control of your own healing.
‘Having a hip replacement is a significant operation and I was quite concerned about the recovery. I needn’t have worried. The nutritional guidance Lynn provided was incredibly helpful, pointing me in a direction I would not otherwise have taken. It certainly sped up my recovery.’ – Liz, Auckland
About the Author
Lynn Slovak is a holistic nutritionist, food educator, and writer with a long-standing passion for both the joy and the science of eating well. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Holistic Nutrition (with honours) from Clayton College in the United States, she ran a private clinical practice in Reno, Nevada, supporting clients with issues such as fatigue, stubborn weight gain, and insulin resistance.
Since returning to New Zealand in 2016, Lynn has turned her focus to a subject now very close to her heart: using food to support recovery after illness, surgery, or injury. Her approach blends traditional food wisdom with modern nutritional science, grounded in both clinical insight and her own experience.
Lynn now lives with her husband Greg on a small farm in Tutukaka, Northland, where they raise sheep, grow vegetables, and aim for greater self-sufficiency. It was here that she wrote Heal Better, Heal Faster—a practical, evidence-based guide to using real food as a tool for healing.
Alongside her writing, Lynn is reopening her clinical practice and looks forward to working one-on-one with clients and speaking more widely about the power of nutrition in recovery.