According to the World Health Organisation, ‘micronutrients are vitamins and minerals needed by the body in very small amounts. However, the impact on a body’s health is critical, and deficiency in any of them can cause severe and even life-threatening conditions. They perform a range of functions, including enabling the body to produce enzymes, hormones, and all those substances needed for normal growth and development. Many of these deficiencies are preventable through nutrition, education, and consumption of a healthy diet containing diverse foods, as well as food fortification and supplementations, where needed.’
Micronutrients, specifically minerals, also play a substantial role in wound healing, as well as vitamins mentioned last week. They assist in various stages and processes, including collagen synthesis, oxygen transport, and immune function. Let’s read about what these micronutrients are:
Zinc is an essential trace element that is important to the functioning of your immune system, health, and metabolism. Zinc is a crucial component of protein synthesis and cell division, two processes essential to the healing of wounds. Zinc can also contribute to the body’s immune response and aid in the defence against infection. Zinc has anti-inflammatory properties and increases the resurfacing of a skin wound we know as epithelium. Foods high in zinc red meat, shellfish, poultry, seafood, beans, dairy, eggs, whole grain, dark chocolate, and nuts.
Copper is a mineral that your body requires in small quantities to maintain good health. Copper has an important role in several functions including, the production of red blood cells, absorption of iron, development, and maintenance of bone, and connective tissues, and activation of the immune system, amongst others. Copper is crucial for wound healing because it helps to form connective tissue, blood vessels, and skin. Copper-rich foods are peas, organ meats such as liver, lobster, shellfish, nuts, potatoes, beans, leafy green vegetables, seeds, and whole grain foods are all copper rich.
Your body needs iron to make haemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that enables them to carry oxygen through your blood vessels. If your body doesn’t have enough haemoglobin, your tissues, and muscles won’t get enough oxygen to be able to work effectively. Iron delivers oxygen to the wound to help it heal. Additionally, the immune system depends on it. Iron-rich foods are shellfish, leafy green vegetables, liver and other organ meats, quinoa, beans, red meat, fish, poultry, beans, leafy green vegetables, pumpkin seeds, turkey, broccoli, and fortified cereals are excellent foods with high iron content.
Selenium is a mineral we can consume by eating many foods. It can help support the healthy functioning of your body, including your metabolism, immune system, and thyroid function. Selenium is an antioxidant that protects cells from infection and damage. Foods containing selenium include some nuts, fish, ham, and fortified foods. It is only required in small amounts but plays a major role in the vital processes of one’s body. Foods rich in selenium are oysters, Brazil nuts, baked beans, tuna, beef, liver, turkey, eggs, beans, sardines, chicken breasts, and other vegetables.
It is always best to derive these winsome nutrients from natural food sources wherever possible. But there are situations where food alone leaves nutritional gaps, and this is precisely where supplements can help a lot.
Whilst supplements were never intended to replace a healthy diet however they are an efficient way to ensure your body has what’s required to promote restorative wound healing. However, do you consult your healthcare provider especially if you’re on medications?
It is essential for anyone who has a leg ulcer wound to eat nutritious healing meals. Anyone living with sickle cell and with a wound will require making a concerted effort by paying attention to supplementations to their diets to return nutrient levels to normal.
It is also important to pay attention to your lifestyle for example try as much as you can to eliminate stress. Sleep deprivation can also affect wound healing Bed rest and in general, limiting the amount of standing time, seem to have an impact on wound healing as well. Remember a healthy lifestyle helps wound healing.
Vitamins support different stages of wound healing, from clotting to new tissue growth. You can support yourself to have optimum healing through a balanced diet, a healthy lifestyle, and supplementation.
Until next time…
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