Are you in pain? No matter if you’ve been in an auto accident or have a sports injury, or if you’re in physical therapy, the first thing is to realize the food you eat can either help or hinder your recovery.
I learned from researching the practice of a specific type of spinal adjustment technique entitled: Advanced Chiropractic Biophysics (CBP) and discovered that food is natures medicine and a piece of the puzzle to how our body heals itself naturally. If you’ve suffered an injury, protein can help you recover by:
- Boosting Energy Levels
- Strengthening The Immune System
- Improving The Nervous System
- Increasing Tissue & Cellular Regeneration
- Balancing Hormone Levels
- Preventing Joints From Re-injury
- Increasing The Metabolism
- Lowering Blood Pressure
Eat Meat In Moderation
There’s no shame in eating meat, but when you incorporate fruits and vegetables that are also high in protein, you will be doing all you can to recover from your injury as quickly as possible. If you are suffering chronic pain, then it’s advised that you skip out on red meat and choose chicken or fish as the alternative meat source, as red meats and fried foods increase inflammation, which can increase your daily pain levels.
Add These Proteins To Your Grocery List
A plant-based protein diet doesn’t mean you need to be a vegetarian, but the more protein and other essential vitamins you consume the faster you’ll heal.
Fruits
Cantaloupe
Peaches
Watermelon
Jackfruit
Oranges
Plums
Honeydew Melon
Mango
Blueberry
Bananas
Avocados
Pineapple
Grapes
Figs
Durian
Dates
Persimmons
Pears
Grains
Kamut
Spelt
Quinoa
Teff
Wild Rice
Triticale
Amaranth
Buckwheat Groats
Oatmeal
Millet
Brown Rice
Beans
Lupin Beans
Fava Beans
Brown Lentils
Black Eyed Peas
Split Peas
Kidney Beans
Lima Beans
Green Peas
Red Lentils
Mung Beans
Pinto Beans
Adzuki Beans
Black Beans
Navy Beans
Chickpeas
Peanuts
Green Beans
Vegetables
Radish
Garlic
Beets
Onion
Carrots
Sweet Potato
Parsnip
Broccoli Sprouts
Mushrooms
Bok Choy
Spinach
Mustard Greens
Collards
Chard
Kale
Broccoli
Brussel Sprouts
Turnip Greens
Artichokes
Nuts & Seeds
Hemp Seeds
Pumpkin
Almonds
Pistachio
Sunflower
Poppy Seeds
Flax Seeds
Chia Seeds
Cashews
Sesame Seeds
Hazelnuts
Walnuts
Brazil Nuts
Pine Nuts
Chestnut
Macadamia Nuts
Supplements & Powders
Pea Protein Powder
Brown Rice Powder
Hemp Protein Powder
Nutritional Yeast
Maca Powder
Eat More Protein, Lose Weight, & Strengthen Muscles
You don’t have to eat like a vegetarian to seek out protein in vegetables, nuts, grains, and fruits, but research shows that eating more protein can help you recover faster from injury or post-surgery. The choice of protein is essential and depends on what source of proteins you choose. To stave heart disease and lower cholesterol levels, associated with eating high-fat meats, increase your protein intake by eating less fried fats (like bacon and hamburgers), and including extra helpings of protein-rich plant-based ingredients.
Fruits, Vegetables, Grains, & Supplements
If you’re in any amount of pain, then you must take matters into your own hands and change your diet to recover as fast as possible. Increasing protein in your diet can help in maintaining muscle mass as you age or after an injury. It’s inevitable that being in pain will cause you to want not to exercise. For severe cases of chronic pain, I recommend seeking the assistance of a CBP chiropractor. A CBP spinal physician can help you change your lifestyle to manage your pain and avoid surgery and continuous pain medications. Start with your diet and seek a professional that offers pain management alternatives and you’ll find the comfort you’ve been seeking.