After an auto accident, it is important to make sure your body has all the materials needed to heal. It is crucial that the foods you consume raise the level of nutrients available for healing and repair.

Protein, Carbohydrates, and Fats are called macro-nutrients. This is where nutrition starts. Often, people who are overweight even tend to be deficient in these!

Protein 

Protein helps your body with healing, tissue repair, and re-growth. It is also a part of many enzymes, hormones, and neurotransmitters. The current recommendations for protein consumption are 1 gram per 2 pounds of body weight. People who are recovering from an injury, looking to lose weight or build muscle mass should increase protein intake to 1 gram per pound of body weight.

Protein is found in meat, fish, eggs, poultry, milk, cheese, soy products, legumes, and nuts and seeds. Smaller amounts are found in grains and vegetables. 

A great way to get in protein is with a protein shake. An example would be a handful of spinach, a cup of water, 2 ounces of pomegranate juice,  a half cup of frozen fruit, a tablespoon of coconut oil and almond butter blended together. Then, adding a scoop of protein powder to mix to the blend.

Fats

Fats are commonly the most misunderstood component of nutrition. The truth is that there are good fats and bad fats. Good fats are made up of omega-3’s and 9’s and the bad fats are omega-6’s. Increases in bad fats is attributed to the sharp rise in consumption of vegetable oils such as those from corn and soy. Other bad fats are those that are manufactured or damaged. Manufactured fats are those that are hydrogenated which is when liquid fats are made more solid. Damaged fats include those that are rancid or damaged by high heat. A seed oil or nut oil that smells bad or rancid should be discarded and certain oils are best not heated to high temperatures. 

The ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats has changed dramatically due to the widespread use of vegetable oils in cooking and to the processing of oils to alter omega-3 fats and improve their shelf life and eliminate their stronger taste.

When the balance or omega-3 and omega-6 is askew, it raises the level of inflammation in your body. Raise the level of inflammation and you increase your sensitivity to pain and risk of diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and dementia.

Overall, it is essential that healthy fats are consumed more including unrefined coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, omega-3’s, grass-fed butter, cold pressed plant oils, and stay away from the oils derived from soy, cottonseed, corn, sunflower, margarine, and vegetable shortening.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are used in the body for energy and carbohydrate foods can provide a good source of many vitamins and fiber. They are found in starches, fruits, vegetables, sugars, and fibers. Unfortunately, they can also raise insulin levels. 

Its important to include low-glycemic index foods to your diet which means that the sugar from the food does not enter your bloodstream as fast. These foods include leafy greens such as spinach, broccoli, asparagus, brussel sprouts, etc. This doesn’t mean you couldn’t have foods which have a high-glycemic index. Moderation is important for the foods in that category.

If you’re the victim of a car accident in Wesley Chapel, FL, Augustine Chiropractic is here to help. With a specialty treating auto accident injuries, they’ll help you understand your injuries and design a treatment regimen to facilitate the recovery process. They can treat back, neck, and joint pain using the latest chiropractic knowledge and state-of-the-art equipment. Learn more about auto injury treatment by visiting them online. You can also call (813) 994-6008 to schedule an appointment today.