A healthy body starts with proper nutrition. Some tips for a healthier diet include the following:
Choose water over drinks packed with sugar such as soda
They can be high in calories which can add up quickly
Monitor your sodium intake
Too much sodium can raise blood pressure
Cook more foods at home
Takeout foods should be eaten in moderation because they are high in fat, calories, sugar, and sodium
Eat more whole foods instead of highly processed foods
Whole foods are typically located on the outside aisles at the grocery store and include foods like fruits and vegetables
Carbs are an important part of the diet so when eating them it is best to choose whole grains
Carbs are crucial because they are a main energy source in our body and our brain alone needs at least 130 grams of glucose every day
Refined grains are better avoided
Choose healthy fats
Avocado oil or extra virgin olive oil are good examples
Eat plenty of vegetables and fruits because they are high in nutrients
Eat slower and chew more
This allows food to be digested easier
Currently, there is not an approved drug for the treatment of a patient with a TBI but there has been promise for including dietary supplements in a treatment plan.
Nutrients that could be beneficial to people with TBI:
Note: It is recommended to always check with your doctor and dietitian before beginning to take any new supplements and making changes to your diet. A dietitian can help patients that are experiencing trouble eating or swallowing to ensure they are still getting enough nutrients.
While a healthy diet will not cure a brain injury, it can assist the body in recovery.
Omega-3
- It is an important component to maintain a healthy and functioning brain. After a TBI, it is common for there to be inflammation and omega-3’s can help to decrease it.
-It has been shown that without sufficient omega-3, recovery is impaired (Desai, Kevala, & Kim, 2014). In a study with rats, they were given an omega-3 supplement for 4 weeks prior to a TBI. The results showed that with omega-3, the brain can be protected from a reduction in plasticity and learning abilities (Wu, Ying, & Gomez-Pinilla, 2004). More research needs to be conducted if supplementation after injury is also beneficial.
-Foods high in omega 3 include many fish such as mackerel, salmon, and herring. For those with a vegan diet, flax-seed oil is a good alternative.
Vitamin E
Vitamin D
Nicotinamide
Zinc
Magnesium
For further knowledge, this video on nutritional support for people with TBI is a great one to take a look at!
References:
Aminmansour, B., Nikbakht, H., Ghorbani, A., Rezvani, M., Rahmani, P., Torkashvand, M., . . .
Moradi, M. (2012). Comparison of the administration of progesterone versus progesterone and vitamin D in improvement of outcomes in patients with traumatic brain injury: A randomized clinical trial with placebo group. Advanced Biomedical Research, 1(1), 58. doi:10.4103/2277-9175.100176
Cope, E. C., Morris, D. R., Scrimgeour, A. G., VanLandingham, J. W., & Levenson, C. W.
(2011). Zinc supplementation provides behavioral resiliency in a rat model of traumatic brain injury. Physiology & Behavior, 104(5), 942-947. doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2011.06.007
Desai, A., Kevala, K., & Kim, H. (2014). Depletion of brain docosahexaenoic acid impairs recovery from traumatic brain injury. PloS One, 9(1), e86472. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0086472
Lee, J. M., Jeong, S. W., Kim, M. Y., Park, J. B., & Kim, M. S. (2019). The effect of vitamin D
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Vonder Haar, C., Anderson, G. D., & Hoane, M. R. (2011). Continuous nicotinamide
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Vonder Haar, C., Peterson, T. C., Martens, K. M., & Hoane, M. R. (2016). Vitamins and
nutrients as primary treatments in experimental brain injury: Clinical implications for nutraceutical therapies. Brain Research, 1640, 114-129. doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2015.12.030
WholisticMatters. (2019) Understanding Nutritional Support for TBI [Video]. Youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dl8lhfATgLg
Wu, A., Ying, Z., & Gomez-Pinilla, F. (2004). Dietary omega-3 fatty acids normalize BDNF
levels, reduce oxidative damage, and counteract learning disability after traumatic brain injury in rats. Journal of Neurotrauma, 21(10), 1457-1467. doi:10.1089/neu.2004.21.1457
Wu, A., Ying, Z., & Gomez-Pinilla, F. (2010). Vitamin E protects against oxidative damage and
learning disability after mild traumatic brain injury in rats. Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, 24(3), 290-298. doi:10.1177/1545968309348318
Young, J. M., & Hoane, M. R. (2018). Magnesium administration after experimental traumatic
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