Low carb eating and injury repair

[simple33332003]

I am just curious do anyone of you find any changes to the time it takes to recover from injuries on low carbs?

Example a pulled muscle from playing basketball etc.

Do you find that the protein intake can be higher than normal on low carbs so you heal faster?

Or do you feel the lack of carbs slows down healing ?

Or do you find there is no real change in the time it takes to heal injuries at all from when you ate carbs?

Just wondered if I should just stay on low carbs while injured or whether uping carbs temporarily would help healing or not.

[Gaelen]

lack of carbs will never 'shut down healing.'
The body under stress, whether from illness or injury, needs protein to repair itself.
I've had three major abdominal surgeries because of cancer and two intracerebral hemorrhages. After each illness, my body actually*CRAVED* protein, and carbs weren't even marginally attractive. As for time-to-heal...my docs have all been amazed at my level of recovery. I think (personally) that recovery is always painfully slow--but my docs are dancing on the ceiling. I also have far less issues with slow-to-heal wounds, although that's pretty common with the types of surgeries I've had.

Mileage may vary, but that's been my experience.

[Ammy]

I too have had surgeries while LC'ing and all was fine.

I also have arthritis and bursitis issues (thanks to being so incredibly large before PP) and when dealing with a flare-up, I don't feel my recovery is slower because of lc'ing.

[Tresses]

A friend of mine had abdominal surgery a few years ago. I don't remember all of the details, but she had one of those wounds that they leave open to heal on its own. Her wound took many months to heal, but her doctors told her to eat high protein (adding protein shakes as well) in order to speed the healing. She wasn't low-carbing, but the protein was key.

[gitfiddle]

I am just curious do anyone of you find any changes to the time it takes to recover from injuries on low carbs?...Just wondered if I should just stay on low carbs while injured or whether uping carbs temporarily would help healing or not.
I've been low carb for four years and have noticed no difference in injury healing, and I've had a few. There is nothing in my experience that would be improved in any way by raising my carb intake. There are many disadvantages, though.

IMHO, pulled muscles respond better to gentle physical exercise/therapy. More protein helps them repair faster.

[deirdra]

I had knee surgery (ACL replacement) and recovered twice as fast as the average patient, despite being 46 at the time (most surgeries are done on 20-30 year old athletes).

[lczeledoc]

On a somewhat related note, since eating LC for the last 18 months I haven't had a cold or the flu. Before, I used to get frequent colds, and the flu almost evry flu season. This time evrybody at my household has had colds and the flu, except me.

[gitfiddle]

I had knee surgery (ACL replacement) and recovered twice as fast as the average patient, despite being 46 at the time (most surgeries are done on 20-30 year old athletes).Wow! I'm impressed, Deirdra. I dithered over my knee for a year, but now that I'm working it, it's responding.


On a somewhat related note, since eating LC for the last 18 months I haven't had a cold or the flu. Before, I used to get frequent colds, and the flu almost evry flu season. This time evrybody at my household has had colds and the flu, except me.I'll go along with that statement. I get one cold a year, on average. Allergies improved, too. Some of that might be the supplements I take, though. Hard to tell, but it's all good.

[proteinpowergirl]

In my experience I heal much faster on lower carbs than I ever did on higher carbs. Especially any wounds. Of course the lower bs/insulin levels probably really help with that. As far as muscle injuries, again I heal faster now that I eat more protein before this lifestyle.