Friday, January 23, 2015

The Impact of Nutrition on Traumatic Brain Injury Recovery

When recovering from a traumatic brain injury, proper nutrition is crucial. The brain requires energy and specific nutrients to function, and these factors become even more important during the recovery process. Although research on the subject is still in its infancy, researchers have identified a number of dietary factors that contribute to brain repair after a head injury.

 The Department of Defense asked the Institute of Medicine to review studies on the relationship between nutrition and brain recovery in an effort to aid injured soldiers. The researchers concluded that infusions of protein and calories contribute to recovery by reducing inflammation in the brain. The calories also prevent energy deficiencies that could interfere with the repair process.

 Other important nutrients that may play a role during recovery include creatine and zinc. Creatine keeps the brain sharp by providing it with ATP, a molecule that facilitates the transfer of chemical energy in the body. The best dietary sources of creatine are lean meat and eggs.

 Zinc has been shown to reduce brain injury-related depression and improve memory and other cognitive functions. Foods with high zinc content include oysters, beef, spinach, nuts, and pumpkin seeds.

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