Eating a healthy diet is crucial for your body's healing if you have suffered an injury or accident. Certain foods and nutrients can accelerate your recovery. It is essential that you provide your immune system with the right vitamins, minerals, and nutrients to ensure proper healing of your body.
When an injury occurs, your body produces excess inflammation. In response to the injury, the body stimulates its immune system to initiate complex chemical reactions to begin the healing process. During the healing process, healthy cells adjacent to the injury become more active, using extra oxygen and energy to rebuild the damaged tissue.1 It is, therefore, imperative to maintain a healthy diet.
Include these in your diet to help aid in your healing:
Vitamin D
Besides helping your body absorb calcium from your food, vitamin D has another critical function. It plays a vital role in recovering after a bone injury in conjunction with calcium. If you can't get outside daily, a supplement is a great way to give yourself some extra vitamin D.
Essential fatty acids
Omega 3s provide well-evidenced natural anti-inflammatory properties. Found in: oily fish, avocados, nuts and seeds, and green leafy vegetables.
Green veggies
Adding green leafy vegetables to your diet is another way to help yourself. Vitamin C, vitamin E, and zinc are all potent antioxidants that reduce levels of free radicals (toxic waste products produced by inflammation)2 Found in: spinach, swiss chard, mustard greens, and kale.
Protein
Eating a diet rich in lean proteins helps aid in repairing and replacing damaged and worn-out cells. Your body needs protein to help build and repair muscle, skin, and other tissues. Protein also helps fight infection, balance body fluids, and carry oxygen through your body. Found in: fish, eggs, poultry, beans, lentils, and quinoa.
Fruits
Help decrease inflammatory prostaglandins and decrease stress factors in the body. Flavonoids (potent antioxidants) and vitamin C are found in dark-skinned berries (especially wild blueberries and elderberries) , citrus fruits and kiwis.
Herbs
The curcumin found in turmeric can help wounds heal by decreasing inflammation and oxidation. The result is a faster recovery from an injury or surgery.
The role of nutrition in metabolism, energy production, hemoglobin synthesis, lean mass, bone mass maintenance, reducing inflammation, and improving immunity are vital when trying to recover from an injury.3 During your rehabilitation period, you should also prioritize sleep and stress management and always follow your healthcare provider's or physical therapist's recommendations.
The team at ACE Rehab is here to guide you after a work injury. We will assist you in navigating insurance claims with the corporation where you were injured and offer you personalized treatment plans to get you back to your pre-injured self. For an in-depth evaluation of your injury, please call (703) 204-0533 or visit www.acerehab.com.