It helps to protect us and starts to repair damage. The key to combatting this nutritionally is reducing foods which contribute to inflammation and increasing foods which reduce inflammation.

Fruits, vegetables and healthy fats help to reduce inflammation. Foods high in vitamin C can be extremely helpful for injury recovery.

Make sure you are eating plenty of fruits and vegetables. Zinc has many vital roles in our bodies including keeping our immune system functioning well and aiding in injury and wound repair.

You can get Zinc from foods like red meat, brown nice and lentils. Calcium keeps our bones strong and helps them to repair themselves, so eating foods which are high in calcium can be particularly useful for fractures and other bone injuries. Foods which are high in calcium include cheese, yogurt and milk.

Iron helps our bodies to produce blood cells and a protein called collagen. Collagen is essentially the glue which holds our bodies together, providing the structure for our bones, muscles, tendons and skin.

You can see why it would be vital for injury repair! Foods like red meat, eggs and fish are high in iron content. Both magnesium and potassium help to keep our nerves and muscles are working properly.

Magnesium also helps with bone formation. Foods like nuts, legumes, whole grains and seeds among others are great for magnesium and potassium consumption.

A vital role of vitamin D is to help store minerals in your bones, keeping them strong and helping them recover. This vitamin also helps your blood to absorb calcium.

Fatty fish, diary products, cheese, and egg yolks are some great vitamin D sources. Make sure you do your research and consult a medical professional before adding any new supplement to your diet.

Take your time to figure out what diet is right for you! Here are some tips to help you:. Make sure you do your research to figure out what is right for your bodies requirements. Seek professional guidance if you are unsure: you could speak to your doctor, a physiotherapist , a personal trainer or another medical professional.

If you become injured, consider how you can alter your diet to help you recover faster and get back to your usual activities. Specific injuries may benefit from specific adjustments to your diet: do your research or ask a medical professional. Gatorade Sports Science Institute.

There are a few in particular that play a role in injury prevention and recovery. Vitamin C aids in collagen formation and immune function [3]. You can find vitamin C in foods like bell peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, kiwi, strawberries, and circus fruits.

Zinc supports wound healing, tissue repair, oxidative stress, inflammation, and immune defense [6]. Oysters, legumes, pumpkin seeds, egg yolks, whole grains, beef, and dark chocolate are good sources of zinc.

Calcium and vitamin D are two nutrients that support bone health. Studies have shown that bone health directly impacts the occurrence of injury and recovery from injury [7]. Calcium can be found in dairy products, leafy greens, almonds, and tofu.

You can find vitamin D in egg yolks, mushrooms, and salmon, but sunlight is the most abundant and effective source! Some antioxidants you may have heard of are vitamin E, beta-cartone, selenium, and manganese. These nutrients reduce inflammation and promote faster recovery [8].

Dehydration increases your risk of injury—from more minimal muscle strains to serious ligament and muscle tears [9]. Proper hydration helps maintain the elasticity and health of connective tissues, boosts your immune system, and helps with inflammatory regulation [10]. Hydration needs vary drastically from one person to another based on height, weight, age, activity level, and even location people at higher altitudes or in dryer, hotter locations generally need more water.

So for most, we recommend judging hydration needs based on fluid loss during exercise and urine color. As for electrolyte intake, replacing sodium, chloride, potassium, magnesium, and calcium lost through sweat will help maintain fluid balance and muscle contraction—all of which aid in injury prevention.

Opting for salty foods is a great way to get in sodium post-exercise. The foods you eat directly impact your ability to mitigate injury or recover from injury when and if it occurs.

Exact nutrient needs vary significantly from person to person and injury to injury. Calcium and vitamin D are nutrients associated with healthy bones, so if you have a bone fracture or a stress fracture, make sure to get plenty of these 2 nutrients to strength your bones. The best sources of calcium and vitamin D are low-fat dairy foods.

Yogurt, a good source of calcium, is not always fortified with vitamin D, so check the nutrition label of your favorite yogurt to make sure you are getting vitamin D. It may sound odd to mention fiber with healing foods, but the pain medications that are commonly prescribed after injury or surgery cause constipation.

Prunes or prune juice along with drinking plenty of water have a natural laxative effect that can alleviate constipation while on pain medications.

Other good fiber sources include fresh fruits and vegetables, high-fiber whole grain cereals, and legumes. Nutrition for the Injured Athlete from Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

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Ensuring your body has enough water is just as important as what you eat. The more exercise you do, the more you sweat, which means you need more water! When injuries do occur, nutrition can play a vital role in helping you recover quicker and more effectively! It helps to protect us and starts to repair damage.

The key to combatting this nutritionally is reducing foods which contribute to inflammation and increasing foods which reduce inflammation. Fruits, vegetables and healthy fats help to reduce inflammation. Foods high in vitamin C can be extremely helpful for injury recovery.

Make sure you are eating plenty of fruits and vegetables. Zinc has many vital roles in our bodies including keeping our immune system functioning well and aiding in injury and wound repair.

You can get Zinc from foods like red meat, brown nice and lentils. Calcium keeps our bones strong and helps them to repair themselves, so eating foods which are high in calcium can be particularly useful for fractures and other bone injuries.

Foods which are high in calcium include cheese, yogurt and milk. Iron helps our bodies to produce blood cells and a protein called collagen. Collagen is essentially the glue which holds our bodies together, providing the structure for our bones, muscles, tendons and skin. You can see why it would be vital for injury repair!

Foods like red meat, eggs and fish are high in iron content. Both magnesium and potassium help to keep our nerves and muscles are working properly. Magnesium also helps with bone formation. Foods like nuts, legumes, whole grains and seeds among others are great for magnesium and potassium consumption.

A vital role of vitamin D is to help store minerals in your bones, keeping them strong and helping them recover. This vitamin also helps your blood to absorb calcium. Fatty fish, diary products, cheese, and egg yolks are some great vitamin D sources.

Make sure you do your research and consult a medical professional before adding any new supplement to your diet. Take your time to figure out what diet is right for you! Here are some tips to help you:. Make sure you do your research to figure out what is right for your bodies requirements.

Seek professional guidance if you are unsure: you could speak to your doctor, a physiotherapist , a personal trainer or another medical professional. Eating enough protein at the right times can help you preserve your muscle mass while also promoting the repair process.

Eat at least 2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight each day. For example, someone who weighs pounds would need grams of protein daily.

To get the most benefit from protein, eat smaller doses of 20—40 grams at frequent intervals throughout the day, such as over 3—4 meals or snacks. Good sources of protein include lean red meat, poultry, fish, dairy, eggs, beans, nuts, and seeds.

Choosing protein sources high in leucine—such as dairy products, meats, and poultry—might be of additional benefit. Omega-3 fatty acids can be particularly helpful in managing inflammation after an injury or surgery.

Foods high in omega-3s include salmon, sardines, tuna, herring, chia and flax seeds, and walnuts. Other fats that help with healing include unsaturated fats such as olive oil, avocados, nuts, and seeds.

Examples of vitamins and minerals that support tissue repair and recovery include Vitamins C and D, as well as zinc, potassium, and calcium. Polyphenols, which are beneficial nutrients found in fruits and vegetables, also help with healing.

Water is your best bet, but low-fat milk and other low-calorie drinks , as well as watery fruits and vegetables, can help meet your fluid needs to support recovery. Keep added sugars, trans fats, and highly-processed foods to a minimum.

You might also want to limit or avoid alcohol because it is high in calories and can slow down the healing process.

Instead, fill up on nutrient-rich whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and complex carbohydrates. Other good fiber sources include fresh fruits and vegetables, high-fiber whole grain cereals, and legumes.

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