Eat Well, Live Well: Pressure Sore Rx: Prevention!


Pressure sores are more than just a pain in the ass — or any other boney prominence. These severe skin breakdowns can significantly hinder our quality of life and in some cases be life-threatening.

After a spinal cord injury our skin is much more susceptible to damage and breakdown due to loss of sensation, decreased muscle mass, altered blood circulation and chronic pressure exerted over areas such as our buttocks, elbows and heels.

It is estimated that 10-30 percent of us will develop a pressure sore within our first year of injury, and that 50-80 percent of us will develop one at some point in our life. This high prevalence of pressure sores accounts for a large number of spinal cord injury re-hospitalizations, and research indicates that our risk of developing them increases with time since injury.

Given these facts, what’s the best way to treat a pressure sore? Do everything in your power to prevent them from developing in the first place. So, in addition to using proper seating devices and practicing pressure relief techniques, one of the best ways you can maintain your skin integrity is to ensure you’re getting the essential nutrients needed to support healthy, strong skin.

It is also important to eliminate refined and processed foods, as these can cause tissue inflammation, which inhibits the body’s ability to heal tissue. The following recipe below, which contains all of the above nutrients, is a delicious prescription to help keep your skin healthy and whole!

 

NUTRIENT SKIN BENEFITS SOURCE DAILY INTAKE
Protein Essential for tissue synthesis and healing Meat, fish, poultry, eggs, nuts/seeds and legumes 2-3 servings/day. 1 serving = the palm of your hand
Vitamin A Immune boosting and skin reparative properties Orange/yellow vegetables and fruits 5000 IU/day
Vitamin C Multiple immune, collagen and elastin-building functions Green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, berries, red/green peppers and broccoli 1-2000 mg/day
Vitamin E Powerful antioxidant helps reduce free radicals that can damage tissues Almonds, sunflower seeds, olives/olive oil and spinach 400 IU/day
Omega-3 fatty acid Helps to reduce inflammation, transports nutrients (vitamin A and E ), needed for growth and support of cells and tissues Fish (salmon, halibut, sardines, mackerel), ground flax seeds and walnuts 1.5 grams
Zinc Supports collagen production Pumpkin and sesame seeds, spinach and beef 30 mg/day

 

Salsa Chicken Salad

4 cups baby spinach
2 chicken breasts (can also substitute favorite white fish)
1 tsp sea salt
3 tbs butter, melted
1 tbs garlic, minced
1 cup tomato, peeled, seeded and diced
1/2 red pepper, diced
1/2 green pepper, diced
3 tbs white wine vinegar
4 tbs olive oil
4 tbsp sesame seeds
Black pepper to taste

1. Season chicken with salt
2. In small bowl, combine butter, garlic
3. Grill chicken seven minutes per side and brush with garlic butter blend
4. While chicken is cooking, combine tomato, peppers, white wine vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper in bowl and stir well
5. When chicken is cooked, coat with sesame seeds and place on bed of spinach
6. Serve salsa over grilled chicken

Joanne Smith and Kylie James are co-authors of the book Eat Well Live Well with SCI and Other Neurological Conditions. For more information on nutrition for neurological injuries, go to
www.eatwelllivewellwithsci.com.


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