Every type of brain injury, including concussions, can trigger a cascade of neurochemical changes in your brain. And even though these changes don’t necessarily equate to being “dangerous,” they always impact the brain’s ability to adapt and recover from the injury.
Concussion Nutrition Tips & Guidelines
Nutrition plays a crucial part in this recovery process.
Certain nutritional recommendations can really make a profound difference in how quickly the brain recovers from the injury. “Concussion nutrition” is an effective new addition to modern brain injury treatments that can help your brain recover in better time.
Plenty of Water, Not a Drop of Alcohol
If you’ve recently suffered a concussion, you should be drinking plenty of water.
Keeping your brain properly hydrated will facilitate and speed up its recovery. This also means that you should be avoiding beverages with an opposite impact on your body, primarily alcoholic drinks. Treat your brain to a lot of water, squeezed fruit, and smoothies instead.
Reducing Sugar, Salt, and Caffeine Intake
Processed sugar, salt, and caffeine will further dehydrate your body, irritating your central nervous system and negatively impacting recovery. Not only do they not offer any real nutritional value or health benefits, they can also lead to a number of health complaints.
It may be challenging at first, but it’s best to start avoiding candy bars, fried food and coffee ASAP.
A Diet Rich With Fruits & Vegetables
Concussion or not, natural nutrition is always the best for your health.
Packed with vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, fruits and vegetables will ensure that your brain recovery goes as smoothly as butter (which you should avoid as well). Have at least five portions of fruits and vegetables every day and increase your avocado intake.
In fact, you should pay special attention to all foods rich with Vitamin C and E.
In addition to avocado, this nutritional group includes all tropical fruits, citrus fruits, berries, and bell peppers for Vitamin C and dark leafy vegetables for Vitamin E. As antioxidants, both of these vitamins are brilliant for improving concussion symptoms and hastening recovery.
Fish and Lean Meats for the Main Course
Unprocessed meats, namely chicken and turkey, will provide your brain with enough protein and amino acids to heal quickly and properly. In addition to this, you should be eating a lot of fish. Fish is a high-protein that is also rich with Vitamin E and good fats – omega-3 fatty acids.
These fats support both brain development and cognitive function.
Nuts and Seeds for Power Snacks
Similarly to fish, nuts and seeds are an ample source of Vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids. They are also a great replacement for the usual power snacks such as candy bars, rice cakes, and pretzels. Doctors recommend that you should always have a bag of nuts and seeds on you.
The healthiest nuts for the brain are walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, and peanuts.
Start a Concussion Nutrition Plan Today!
Even though your brain will heal in no time with “concussion nutrition”, try making this balanced diet a part of your everyday routine after you recover. Eating healthy improves not only your cognitive function but also your immune system, blood pressure, and cardiac health.
For more information on our concussion nutrition services and other treatment options for concussion, use the convenient form below to get in touch with Broadview Spine & Heath Centre.