Chantelle: Getting healthy after an injury
I blew it. My ACL and meniscus that is. For anyone that’s been hurt before, they know it’s never fun. However, there’s lots of things you can do when you’re given an opportunity to sit around all the time, like read books, create art, organize trips, and figure out how you can get healthier faster. That’s what I’ve done, and here’s my tips… for the health part anyway.
1. Attitude. I know it sounds silly, but it’s been scientifically proven over and over again that if you have a good attitude, your healing time will be much shorter than someone who has a bad one. So when your mom says, “Cheer Up”, you should listen. Moms always know.
2. Rest. Yes, I know you’ve probably heard this one too. But, if your body isn’t well rested, then it doesn’t have the energy to heal. To help sleep better, make sure you cut off your caffeine intake and are eating a balanced diet. If your body is healthy, it will create melatonin, which is the natural sleep hormone that will help you fall asleep and stay asleep so your body can heal, heal, heal.
3. Eat less dairy. I know you think drinking milk is going to make your bones stronger, and it will, but when you’re injured, dairy can slow the process of healing faster. I could go into a scientific explanation of why this is, but instead I’ll make it easy. Dairy coats the cell walls, so when your body is trying to heal, it provides an extra layer that it has to penetrate before healing. However, calcium (found in dairy) is still important, it helps you relax, heal, and makes your bones strong. You can find it added to many non-dairy products like orange juice and crackers.
4. Pineapple. If you have an injury like I do, that makes a certain part of your body swollen, pineapple is a great natural anti-inflammatory. It’s an easy way to help your body’s swelling go down, which will, in turn, make it more mobile and heal faster! If you can’t find a ripe pineapple, it’s easy to get the supplement that helps healing. Bromelain formula (which is extracted from pineapple) can be found in any health food store!
5. Herbs. There are many different types of herbs you can take that’ll be beneficial for a healthy body. They have long held an important place in the treatment and prevention of illnesses for hundreds of years. Just like bromelain (pineapple) is an anti-inflammatory, herbs can help treat cuts, wounds, coughs, joints, and well… pretty much anything! For particular injuries, I recommend visiting a health food store, or websites like anniesremedy.com as they have lots of great advice as to what herbs you can use to help your body!
6. Stay away from Aspartame. On top of the many reasons that are coming out all over the world, this fake sweetener will slow healing. Your body should only take in natural sugars from fruit, and raw sugar (in small amounts). Since aspartame isn’t either, your body doesn’t know how to react to it. With your body working on breaking it down, it’ll stop working on healing your injury…
7. Exercise. Even though you’re injured, doesn’t mean you should use it as an excuse to stop exercising all together. For me, my knee is injured, and although I can’t run around, skateboard, and ski anymore, I can still bike, swim, and use weights and my own body to strengthen my injured knee, as well as keep the rest of my body in the same shape it was pre-injury! So keep at it…
8. Drink Water. Water is equally as important when you’re not injured, as it is when your injured! Your body has to stay healthy to heal, and a healthy body is a hydrated one! In addition to drinking water, throwing a couple lemon slices in water will also help clear your body of toxins!
(Ed. Note: Pretty Tough athlete Chantelle Heroux is a champion skier who competes internationally and has a lot of fun on and off the slopes - get well soon CH!)
