Some effective diet tips for healing bone fractures

 Many of us, have experienced significant fractures during some or the other phase of life. Apart from experiencing intense pain and limited mobility, we might have addressed all the issues associated with the process of healing. However, it is very likely that people tend to skip the idea of having good, nutritious food for healing the bone fracture.

Accordingly, the article is intended to make our readers aware of different natural supplements that can be helpful for faster recovery from a bone fracture.

Overview

The human body is equipped with the natural healing process, which is being triggered immediately after the injury. The process follows a complex mechanism that is not yet fully understood. Although it has been clarified that the process is inherent and spontaneous, without needing any external guidance. But the speed and extent of healing depend upon a person’s internal capacity and genetic tendency. In this regard, experts are suggesting that supplementation of certain external food for healing the bone fracture can act as life-supporting systems, which can strengthen the entire skeleton and avoid future fractures.

Physiology of healing

The entire process of healing is always being supported by different elements, such as growth factors, inflammatory cytokines, immune boosters, nutrients, hormones and many other components of bones.

Studies and other clinical investigations have so far confirmed that the entire process of healing is categorized into three phases, such as inflammatory phase, reparative phase, and remodeling phase.

1. The inflammatory phase:  This is the initial phase of healing that is being triggered immediately after fracture. The phase is important for clotting of blood, which is further being associated with the influx of different important cells and cytokines to clean up the debris of dead cells around the area. Through the combined action of these cellular components, cellular repairing can be achieved that is important for the formation of new bone matrix and cartilage.

• Reparative Stage: This phase is initiated two weeks post fracture, and is responsible for consolidation of cellular proteins into a soft tissue, known to be as the callus. Over the period of 6-8 weeks, the soft tissue is being converted into a harder version of bone, known as hard callus.

• Remodeling Stage: The final stage of fracture repair is known to be as the remodeling phase, wherein the maturation and remodeling of callus are accomplished to form stronger bone.

It is further important to understand that while recovering from a bone fracture, the increased nutritional demands of the body have to be fulfilled.

Quite commonly, people suffering from bone fracture are never being informed that diet and nutrition play important role in healing their bone fractures at a faster rate. Accordingly, a number of methods can be employed for faster recovery, and can be noted as:

1.   Provision of adequate energy

As a matter of fact, healing fractured bone requires more nutritional strength than expected and can be fulfilled by increasing the caloric demand of the body. Experts have stated that in routine practice, the body’s calory requirements are 2500 per day; whereas in case of injury or fracture the demand gets increased to 6000 calories per day. Accordingly, if the demand is not fulfilled, the process of faster healing will get compromised.

2.   Maintain your protein intake

Physiologically, bone is identified to be a spongy protein, upon which mineral crystals are structured to contribute structural benefits. In case of bone fracture, roughly half of protein degenerates, and hence, the brain cells demand more protein supplementation to form new bone matrix.

Moreover, increased protein intake from outside the body is suggested to be helpful in increased secretion of different important growth factors, like insulin-like growth factors that are helpful in offering the positive structural integrity, muscular strength, immune regulation and improvement in functional aspect of bone. Accordingly, experts have pinpointed at some specific amino acids that have to be consumed extra through the diet and they can be noted as lysine, arginine, proline, glycine, and leucine.

3.   Increase intake of anti-inflammatory nutrients

Increase uptake of dietary antioxidants has been proven to be helpful to restart repairing of oxidative damage. The physiology of the body suggests that in the case of bone fracture, the compact collagen fibers running in between the mineral crystals of the bone are ruptured stressfully while interacting with free radicals.

Thus, free radicals are always associated with inflammatory immune response further causing structural breakdown of the bone. Scientists have proven that in case of body injury or fracture, increased production of free radicals can overwhelm the production of natural anti-oxidants in the body; and hence, these antibodies have to be supplemented from outside to manage with the loss.

4.   Boost your mineral intake

We all know that 70% of the bone is mineral like Calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. With the added availability of minerals in the body, it is possible to heal the bone at a faster rate than usual. In fact, many of us are under-consuming minerals on daily basis; and thus, it is impossible for our body to redirect mineral deposit to the site of injury. In this regard, it is always suggested to increase the mineral intake, especially in case of bone fracture.

Accordingly, some foods for healing bone fracture; listed herewith can help you to get back to work at a faster rate:

1.   Dairy products

Dairy products like milk, cheese, yogurt etc. can be considered as some of the best sources of Calcium and vitamin D; which are being noted as two of the most crucial ingredients for improving bone strength and functions.

2.   Soy Milk

Some of you, who are lactose intolerant and cannot typically rely on dairy milk for Calcium and other mineral requirements of your body; soy milk can also be a better option.  According to the surveillance, soy milk can offer a third recommended allowance of Calcium and vitamin D.

3.   Tuna Fish

Calcium can only be functional when it is being paired with vitamin D. In this regard, Tuna fish can be a perfect combination of vitamin D and Calcium.

4.   Pumpkin Seeds

The roasted pumpkin seeds are a good source of minerals, such as Calcium, magnesium, and zinc. The mineral content of these pumpkin seeds is helpful for increasing the strength and the functional attributes of bones.

5.   Kale

This mighty food for healing bone fracture is highly acknowledged due to its Vitamin-K content, which is found to be very crucial for binding Calcium and utilization of Calcium by bone. Thus, scientists have evidently elaborated how vitamin K is required to utilize Calcium, redirect the same towards fractured bone and then can be helpful in reknitting the bone.