6 Beneficial Foods to Reduce Inflammation Post-Car Accident

Car accidents may not necessarily leave visible injuries. Beneath the surface, you may be dealing with inflammation, leading to aches, pains, and even limited range of motion. 

Prolonged inflammation can also slow down your recovery, meaning you’ll want to address it as soon as possible. While seeking out professional help is a great idea, adjusting certain lifestyle choices, such as your diet, can also accelerate your recovery. So, what should you add to your diet to lower inflammation? Well, that’s exactly what this article is all about!

What is Inflammation?

Inflammation can be caused by stress, infection, injury, or disease. It happens when the immune system responds to either fight off an infection or heal the body. 

In the case of a car accident, the cause is often increased stress or invisible injuries (like whiplash or a concussion). And inflammation isn’t necessarily a bad thing; it’s often the start of the healing process within your body. This inflammatory response involves increased blood flow to the affected area, causing it to become red and warm. This ensures plenty of immune cells can reach the affected site and keep you safe!

However, inflammation can also get in the way of healing. It can reduce our ability to move and lead to other issues. Thus, finding ways to reduce it can be beneficial.

What Foods Clear Up Inflammation?

You don’t have to rely on prescribed or over-the-counter medicines to ease inflammation from your car accident. In fact, you shouldn’t; many of these medications come with unwanted side effects when used in the long term. 

Your diet, on the other hand, offers an all-natural approach to healing and reducing inflammation. In fact, our diets are the foundations of good health. What we eat provides our bodies with the building blocks they need to function as they should.

So, post-car accident, what foods should you incorporate more of? Luckily, you’re probably already eating a lot of these. If not, it can be tons of fun to find new recipes or ways to include these in your regular diet.

Here are our top 6 food suggestions for reducing inflammation:

1. Berries: From blueberries to strawberries, it’s not exactly a secret that Mother Nature’s candy is packed full of antioxidants. Antioxidants can help combat inflammation by neutralizing free radicals, which can increase inflammation in the body.

2. Mushrooms: Mushrooms, such as white button mushrooms, can help detoxify the body. In many ways, they help “brush out” the small intestines. This ensures toxins don’t build up, leading to increased inflammation. These guys also have antioxidants equipped with anti-inflammatory effects.

3. Fatty Fish: Along with being a wonderful source of protein, fatty fish, like salmon, sardines, or mackerel, contain omega-3s. These can surprisingly have anti-inflammatory properties, helping your body keep inflammation at bay!

4. Turmeric: While not exactly a food, this spice adds a bit of something to each dish and also can help protect your body from the negative effects of inflammation.

5. Extra-Virgin Olive Oil: Olive oil contains oleocanthal, a potent antioxidant. Interestingly, research shows that oleocanthal works similarly to the popular non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen. 

6. Dark Chocolate: Yes, you read that right! This yummy indulgence also contains plenty of antioxidants that help decrease inflammation in the body.

So, how can you incorporate more of the above? Well, it can be fairly easy; here are a few options:

• Snack on dark chocolate, berries, and yogurt.

• Add turmeric to your chicken dishes, casseroles, soups, or smoothies.

• Incorporate two servings of fatty fish a week for lunch or dinner.

• Add mushrooms to your morning scrambled eggs, salad, or as a side with dinner.

Remember, good health begins with our foundations, which includes our diet (alongside exercise, sleep, and more!). If you’re looking for ways to enhance your recovery, these are always good places to start.

Do you require more to support your recovery post-car accident? Curious about whether chiropractic adjustments can help? Contact the Tampa Spine and Wellness team today!