There is a surprising number of things you have to do if you are injured in an accident. Chances are, you will be going to multiple doctor’s appointments, and if the accident was due to someone else’s negligence, you’ll likely want to make a claim with help from an attorney.
Your work doesn’t stop there. It’s important to take care of your mental and physical health. That might mean going to physical therapy, it might mean scheduling appointments with a therapist, and it definitely means tweaking your diet to make sure you eat the kinds of foods that maximize your recovery.
Throw Your Diet Out the Window
Recovering from an accident is not the time to diet. That doesn’t mean you should lounge around on the couch and eat Oreo’s for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but it does mean it’s not the time to focus on losing weight.
Healing bodies generally need more calories than bodies that aren’t healing. If you are cutting calories because you’re trying to lose weight or you’re worried about the fact that you can’t hit the gym, you’re doing your body a disservice.
It also means being kind to yourself. If your mom brings over your favorite lasagna, allow yourself to eat it without guilt. If a piece of pie after dinner boosts your mental health, even if it’s only for a moment, let yourself have it. You can always get back on your diet after your body has had a chance to heal.
Add Turmeric to Your Diet
It’s normal for areas of your body to swell in response to an injury, but that inflammation can prolong your recovery period. Not to mention, it can cause a lot of pain. Anti-inflammatory foods are a must if you’re recovering from an accident.
Foods like berries, broccoli, and avocados are great choices, but you can really help your body combat inflammation by adding turmeric to your diet.
This brightly colored spice is common in Middle Eastern food, but it can be added to many recipes that include:
- Golden milk
- Turmeric smoothies
- Scrambled eggs with turmeric
- Salad with turmeric dressing
- Coconut curry turmeric chicken
Focus on Eating a Variety of Foods
When you think about tweaking your diet for any reason, you probably assume there are certain kinds of foods you should eat and certain foods you should avoid. That’s true if you’re recovering from an accident. For example, eating vegetables is a must, while you should avoid fried foods.
However, it’s actually much better to focus on eating a variety of foods than it is to cut one thing from your diet and add something else. By eating a variety of foods, you can boost your chances of getting all the vitamins and minerals you need for your body to recover from an accident.
Replace Some Red Meat With Fish
There’s nothing wrong with enjoying red meat every once in a while, especially if you follow the previous tip to diversify your diet, but it’s a good idea to incorporate other types of protein into your diet too.
Some studies have shown red meat can increase your risk of diabetes and certain cancers. Not to mention, it has inflammatory properties, which is what you’re trying to combat. Once or twice a week, replace that steak dinner with fish instead. It is full of vitamins and nutrients, which includes omega-3 fatty acids that can help heal soft tissue injuries.
Not a big fan of cod? You have many other options. Try salmon, mahi-mahi, or give a tuna steak a try.
Talk to Your Doctor About Taking a Supplement
Worrying about whether or not you’re getting the nutrients you need to heal as quickly as you can isn’t something that should weigh heavily on your mind when you’re recovering from an accident. Do what you can to follow the tips on this list to eat a healthy diet, but you may also want to talk to your doctor about taking a supplement.
Supplements can be a great way to fill in the gaps in your diet to ensure you’re getting the right nutrients. Talking to your doctor ensures you’re taking the right kinds of supplements so you aren’t wasting your time paying for and taking supplements that aren’t helpful.
Eat more vegetables and cut some fried foods from your diet, but make sure you follow these more general food tips too. They’re easier to follow, and they’ll help you recover from an accident faster.