Recovering from Car and Truck Accident Injuries: Diet
In order to heal, your body needs to rebuild itself. Think about the story of the Three Little Pigs. If you build your body out of flimsy material by eating nutritionally empty foods, you can expect to have illness and injury huff and puff your health away! Rebuilding with better materials will speed your recovery, and staying on that diet will keep you well. Foods that are nutrient-dense build you up, and foods that are junk will make you sicker. First and foremost, cut sugar out! There is strong evidence that sugar—not cholesterol—is what’s driving heart disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Say good-bye to sweetened drinks, and you’ll also stop dragging around extra pounds. Most packaged foods contain sugar, and these include ketchup, processed meats, juices, cereals, and more. In fact about 80% of prepared foods have added sugar, often listed under “aliases” such as corn syrup, dextrose, malt, evaporated cane juice, etc. Even if you are thin, sugars may be giving you non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and that’s not good.
Stick to single-ingredient items in the meat, fish, and poultry section, and choose eggs and high-fat dairy. They give you the proteins, vitamin B-12, and omega-3 fatty acids and healthy HDL-boosting fats that keep you fit. I n the produce aisle, fresh leafy greens, and brightly colored vegetables give you essential vitamins and minerals. Most importantly, you need these nutrient-dense foods to rebuild damaged tissue and nerves.
The good fats are coconut and olive oil as well as butter, but steer clear of processed oils such as canola, corn and soy, as well as margarine and vegetable-based shortening. When food has added healthy fats, you feel full for longer and can lose weight without feeling hungry. An added benefit: healthy fats make you feel good.
Add some fresh air and sunshine and the world will look brighter! Feeling good about life is central to your recovery. If you spend most of your time indoors, you may need to boost your vitamin D intake. Ask your doctor check your vitamin D levels with a simple blood test.
It’s easy to use herbs and seasonings to make simple, quick meals such as broiled or pan-fried fish with a salad and veggies on the side. Spices perk up your meal, and some have other benefits, too. Turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory and so are ginger, garlic and onions—without the many added side effects that you can read about in prescription leaflets.
The take-away point: Real food promotes real health. Don’t pay for empty calories and sugar! Simple fresh food is your best bet and helps you on your way to recovery and beyond.
At Stillman & Friedland we care about you—and we support your process of healing and recovery from injury. We believe that taking care of yourself and really getting better beats hoping drugs will smooth over your pain. That’s why we take the time to provide total help when you need it the most!
Watch for parts 2 and 3, coming soon!
