Archie Hayes 
There are a lot of things on your mind after you’ve been in an accident. You may have more medical costs above and beyond the $15,000 minimum provided by your insurance company if you’re in a car accident, and you may be worried about exactly when you’ll be well enough to go back to work.
What you’re eating is probably on the bottom of your list, but it shouldn’t be. What you eat can have a huge impact on your recovery. Adjusting your diet and thinking more carefully about what you eat can help you recovering from an accident as fast as possible.
Go Easy on the Snacks
It’s hard for most of us to resist late-night snacks. When you finally get home and you’re unwinding after a long day, it’s easy to reach for a bag of potato chips or Oreos.
If you’re recovering, you aren’t just settling down on the couch in the evening. You’re likely sitting on your couch all day long, which can make snacking a huge part of your day.
Although it’s tempting, and snacking can keep you busy, it isn’t good for your recovery. Increased snacking can cause you to gain weight, and it can make you feel more sluggish and tired than you already feel. If you do have the urge to snack, choose healthier options, like carrot sticks or cherry tomatoes.
Drink Plenty of Water
Water isn’t the most appealing beverage. It can be a lot more tempting to reach for the juice or the pop, but you should really drink as much water as possible.
Water is important whether you’re recovering from an accident or not. It lubricates your joints, spinal cord, and tissues, it increases your strength, power, and endurance, and it can increase your blood oxygen circulation.
It’s important to make water your primary beverage. If you’re a little bored of the taste of water, you can always spice things up by adding fruit and vegetables, like lemon and cucumbers. You can also drink tea.
Foods High in Calcium and Vitamin D
Calcium-rich foods are important for conditions like osteoporosis, but because they have such a positive effect on human bones, they are great for fractures and broken bones as well.
You probably already know that dairy products, like milk and cheese, are high in calcium, but there are other foods you can eat that are high in calcium. They include:
- Spinach
- Kale
- Soybeans
- Sardines and salmon
- Fortified foods, like oatmeal
If you want to get the most out of the calcium-rich foods you eat, you should add foods that are high in vitamin D to your diet as well. Foods like cheese, egg yolks, and fatty fish are high in vitamin D, which can help your body absorb the calcium you’re consuming in other foods.
Foods High in Zinc
Zinc is an essential nutrient that aids in wound healing. If you have open wounds or cuts that are healing after an accident, you could expect a delay in healing, and even an increased chance of infection if you don’t consume enough zinc.
It's even more important to get zinc in your diet, because, like vitamin C, it is not something that is stored in the body. It must be added to your diet to ensure you get enough.
Some foods that are high in zinc include:
- Oysters
- Beef patties
- Baked beans
- Dark meat chicken
- Fortified breakfast cereal
- Pumpkin seeds
- Chickpeas
- Almonds
Anti-Inflammatory Foods
Inflammation is a normal bodily response to damaged cells, irritants, and pathogens. It’s normal for your body to react after an accident with inflammation, but it can also make healing and recovery painful. You can help combat inflammation with some medications, but food can be just as, if not more, effective, especially over the long-term.
Choose a diet with the following foods if you’re looking to reduce inflammation:
- Olive oil
- Tomatoes
- Leafy greens
- Fruit
- Nuts
Some foods can actually increase inflammation in the body, so it’s important to avoid them while you’re recovering. A few examples include white bread, soda, red meat, margarine, and fried foods, like French fries.
Having a hard time eating enough anti-inflammatory foods throughout your day? Try a supplement with ginger or turmeric!
Although you may be tempted to snack on a bag of M&M’s while you’re recovering on the couch after an accident, those M&M’s aren’t going to do your recovery any favors. Fill your daily menu with the healthy items on this list, and you’re sure to boost your recovery.
