Eating the Right Diet While Healing from a Disc Injury

In addition to medical treatment a patient receives, eating the right diet while healing from a disc injury is also important. Research has proven that nutrition plays a critical role when it comes to the health of our spines.

If you are suffering from a disc injury, knowing which foods to choose and which ones to avoid can affect how successful your recovery is.

Calcium-Rich Foods

In order to remain healthy, bones need calcium. This is especially important for injured bones. Some of the best sources of calcium include:

• Apricots and Figs
• Dairy
• Eggs
• Fish
• Nuts
• Soybeans
• Vegetables

Fiber

Fiber is an important component of a healthy diet. Foods high in fiber help with digestion. Digestion issues can cause pressure to build in the abdomen, which could put strain on the injured disc.

Glucosamine Sulfate

Glucosamine sulfate is an essential chemical naturally found in the body. One of its jobs is to produce other chemicals that work together to maintain and repair collagen and the thick fluid that surrounds and protects the areas around the joints. Although a person can ingest this in supplement form, one of the best food sources of glucosamine sulfate is bone broth.

Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Omega 3 fatty acids help the body prevent damage to cartilage and discs that are triggered by inflammation. These fatty acids can also help repair damage that has already occurred. Foods high in Omega 3 fatty acids include canola oil, chia seeds, flax seeds, salmon, and walnuts.

Antioxidants

Adding antioxidants while healing from a disc injury is important. Antioxidants help increase the body’s production of collagen. Foods that are good sources for antioxidants include artichokes, blackberries, blueberries, dark chocolate, kidney beans, and pecans.
Other excellent antioxidant sources are green tea, garlic, and cayenne pepper.

Sulfur

Sulfur accelerates collagen and protein production. For generations, people had no problem maintaining the amount of sulfur the body needed because the soil food was grown in was rich in it. Unfortunately, decades of exposure to industrial sources have depleted those high levels of sulfur, so it is important to add foods that are rich in sulfur when eating the right diet while healing from a disc injury.

The first type of food group that contains high levels of sulfur is alliums. Alliums include chives, garlic, leeks, onions, and shallots. The second food group is cruciferous vegetables. These are broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, and watercress. Finally, animal foods such as bone broth, grass-fed beef, organic eggs, and wild-caught fish contain high levels of sulfur.

Foods to Avoid

There are also foods to avoid when eating the right diet while healing from a disc injury. Eating these foods can offset the effects of the healthy foods and this could delay recovery. These foods can actually worsen the inflammation and pain. Foods to avoid include all foods high in sugar, trans and saturated fats, and high fructose corn syrup. People should also avoid processed foods high in nitrates.