What you eat gives different effects to your body. Foods with poor nutrients, for instance, will accumulate substances which are hard to absorb. Otherwise, nutritious foods will enhance your entire health by providing beneficial substances to maximize body functions. These functions include wound healing, wherein certain nutrients are required for speeding up the process.
What are in foods that are beneficial for faster wound healing?
When certain body part is wounded, our body triggers the immune system for combating the infection. There are substances you may find in your foods, which are beneficial as natural antioxidants that help the body in promoting new skin cells; anti-bacterial agents that help the immune system eliminate infesting bacteria that may cause infection; vitamins and minerals that are required for tissues growth and strengthen the immune system. Thus, choosing the right diets during the recovery period can significantly affect your wound healing speed. Knowing which foods containing what beneficial substances is also helpful in determining the proper food choices during the critical period. Vice versa, avoiding foods with certain substances that may aggravate the wounds is also important.
What foods make wounds heal faster?
There are certain foods categorized as “recovery” foods, as they give you beneficial nutrients required for speeding up healing process. These recovery foods combined with proper wound treatments, sufficient hygiene, and healthy lifestyle will contribute to faster and proper wound healing. If you are healing a wound, consider some of these beneficial foods you need to put on your daily intake list:
- Foods rich in vitamin C
Examples include citrus, berries, kiwi, and broccolis.
- Vitamin C is essential for building new proteins required for skin repairing, scar tissues, tendons, and blood vessels. This vitamin also helps the body maintain cartilages and bone tissues. It is also essential in preventing free radicals, which may damage the skin tissues, inhibiting wound healing.
- Foods rich in vitamin A
Examples include carrots, spinach, and sweet potatoes.
- Vitamin A plays an important role in the production of white blood cells. Related to wound healing, white blood cells have an enormous role of fighting the infection on the wound site. White blood cells that determine the strength of our immune system also inhibit potential bacteria from infesting the wound site. Adding vitamin A-rich foods into your daily intake will improve the immune system and thus, increase the healing rate.
- Foods high in omega-3 fatty acids
Examples include salmon, tuna, flax seeds, and raw nuts.
- Omega-3 fatty acid is an essential substance required for wound healing, in that it helps reduce inflammation. Hence, foods enriched with omega-3 fatty acids will reduce the swelling around wound site, promoting faster healing. This type of fatty acid also plays a role as a significant pain killer. This way, omega-3 fatty acids should be taken if you are suffering from painful joints or arthritis, as well as open wounds.
- Foods rich in protein
Examples include eggs, chicken, beef, and soybean.
- Once you are wounded, the body responds immediately through bleeding. This is an important phase of initial wound healing, in that bleeding helps cleansing the wound site. In order to stop bleeding, the body sends more protein into the wounded area. Proteins are also used in the entire healing and recovery processes. Thus, it is obvious that during wound healing, the body demands higher amount of high quality protein.
- Foods which act as anti-inflammatory
Examples include honey and turmeric.
- Anti-inflammatory foods decrease the inflammation which include swelling and infection. Some traditional medicines involve anti-inflammatory ingredients to enhance the healing process, aside from improving the taste. Two most common ingredients which are effective anti-inflammatory agents are honey and turmeric. These ingredients can be added into certain foods or be combined together to speed up the wound healing process.
- Combining honey and powdered turmeric into a glass of omega-3-fatty-acid-rich almond milk gives you a beneficial drink for effective wound healing, in addition to giving you warmth and comfort during the process.
- Foods enriched with zinc
Examples include cereals, red meats, and seafood.
- Zinc is required in wound healing since it enhance cell divisions, collagen production, protein synthesis, and immune system improvement. Thus, this specific mineral is essential during the wound proliferation process, wherein new skin cells, connective tissues, and blood vessels are formed.
- To improve wound healing, consume sufficient zinc-containing foods, making sure you do not over-consume it, since foods being high in zinc are commonly high in cholesterol, which will not be beneficial for your entire health if consumed excessively.
- Foods rich in iron
Examples include leafy vegetables, lentils, and turkey.
- Iron is essential in wound healing since it helps getting oxygen via the hemoglobin to the wound site. Sufficient blood supply will improve wound healing. Thus, daily consumption of iron-containing foods is beneficial in improving wound healing.
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