Omega-3 Fats and Turmeric May Be Potentially Helpful for Spinal Cord Injury Recovery

(Newswire.net — December 13, 2019) Orlando, FL — Injuries are not the only challenging aspect of encountering an accident, recovery time may also be difficult. For many people, it can be extremely difficult to walk and function again after an injury. The good news is that there are certain natural options believed to be helpful for individuals who undergo the recovery process.

Omega-3 fats and turmeric may be potentially helpful for spinal cord injury recovery. Severe falls, physical violence, car accidents, or sports-related accidents may result in spinal cord injury (SCI). Unfortunately, this occurrence can cause irreparable damage to the spine.  

In the United States, there are approximately 200,000 individuals who encounter spinal cord injuries. Men that make up 80% of all diagnosed cases. When the spinal cord injuries are highly crippling, they may result in partial to complete paralysis. 

There are other undesirable and scary consequences of SCI, such as depression and breathing difficulties. It is estimated that the lifelong care cost after a spinal cord injury could reach up to $3 million.

Treatments such as steroid injections are typically used for spinal cord injuries. However, it is important to remember that this treatment option may cause side effects, such as breathing difficulties, pneumonia, and blood clots. 

The Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine published a recent study, which was conducted by The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. The subjects were rats with spinal disorders. 

It was found that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which is a type of omega-3 fatty acid, may be able to repair cell membrane damage. The scientists also found that omega-3s may have successfully protected nerves after injury or accident as well as prevent cell death.

Curcumin, which is a phytochemical found in turmeric, was also found to slow further nerve damage and speed up recovery. 

In a study, the researchers investigated the possible protective effects of omega-3 fatty acids against nerve damage. The study was conducted by a group of researchers led by Adina Michael-Titus, Professor of Neuroscience at Barts and The London Medical School and lead of the Neurotrauma and Neurodegeneration group in the Centre for Neuroscience and Trauma, Queen Mary, University of London. 

It was found that omega-3s may have slowed down cell degeneration and provided protection against further damage.  The healthy fats may have also helped in the fast recovery from sciatic nerve injury.

Omega-3 fats can be found in certain food items such as leafy greens, tomatoes, carrots, peppers, seeds, nuts, and fish. Some of these fish types are tuna, salmon, herring, and mackerel.(http://amazon.com/omega-3-fatty-acids/dp/B00O8NS20K)