A recent report by the Institute of Medicine highlighted 3 distinct phases of recovery from a concussion. 

“A number of nutrients, dietary supplements, or specific diets act in biological systems in ways that suggests administration to TBI (concussion) patients before or after injury could improve patient outcomes.” -Institute of Medicine report on Traumatic Brain Injury.

1. Energy Production. The brain uses more energy than any other organ in the body. Brain cells called neurons run energy dependent pumps in order to maintain the electro-chemical gradient necessary to transmit signals throughout the brain and body. When brain cells are damaged due to an injury, these pumps must work overtime to re-establish the electro-chemical gradient. Concussions both increase energy demands and compromise it due to decreased mitochondrial function. This leads to a vicious cycle. Supporting energy production in every way we can is critical for cellular repair. 

2. Reducing Inflammation and Oxidative Stress. Inflammation is an integral part of the immune systems response to injury and infections. When you get a concussion, specialized immune cells in your brain come in to clean up the debris and begin the repair process. In an ideal world devoid of toxins, emotional stress, processed foods and GMO’s your body can effortlessly regulate this inflammatory response. When your body already has some level of inflammation and oxidative stress due to the factors mentioned above and you sustain a concussion your immune system has a difficult time properly regulating the inflammatory process. This leads to lingering symptoms and leaves your brain more vulnerable to future injuries. 

3. Tissue Repair. If you want to build a brick wall you need bricks. If you want to build brain cells you need DHA and EPA. DHA and EPA are omega 3 fatty acids found in fish and krill oils. We do not have the ability to manufacture these fats on our own so we must get them from our diets. Good sources of DHA and EPA are sardines, mackerel and wild salmon. The types of omega 3’s found in flax seeds and walnuts are good for you but do not contain the DHA and EPA building blocks the the brain needs for growth and repair. Dr. Julian Bailes and Dr. Barry Sears reported in The Journal of Neurosurgery that “Animals receiving the daily fish oil supplement for 30 days post concussion had a greater than 98 percent reduction in brain damage compared with the animals that did not receive the supplement.” That is quite a remarkable statement. Most of us do not get nearly enough omega 3’s from our food and would greatly benefit from supplementing with fish oil. 

Understanding the phases of repair and making sure that your body is nutritionally replete so that if or when you do sustain a blow to the head your body has what it needs to respond just makes sense.