Good Nutrients to aide in healing. Brain concussion

Hi @dmbovee, welcome to Mayo Connect. We’re an online community forum where members come together to use our experiences and valuable insights gathered along our life journies to help each other. We’re not medical professionals so we can’t diagnose medical conditions but we can offer suggestions and help find answers.

From experience, I can sure relate to the trauma from a car accident. How frightening for her. I hope she didn’t suffer any other injuries. Having a brain injury comes with it’s own set of issues. Does she have any cognitive difficulties?

Anytime there is trauma to the body, it’s so important to make sure we eat the right foods. You’re very wise to consider diet during her recovery.

Some of the best foods that help our bodies heal have high levels of antioxidants and compounds called flavonoids which help calm inflammation. Flavonoids also help fight the free radicals in the brain and can stimulate BDNF, an important growth protein that triggers the brain to enter a process known as neurogenesis. Regeneration of nerve tissue.

So basically, eating a normal healthy diet of foods rich in antioxidants such as Blue Berries. Cranberries, green tea, broccoli, olive oil, nuts, dark chocolate, and foods containing Omega 3s~fatty fish like Salmon or Mackerel, and lean proteins like chicken.

Things to avoid would be foods high in saturated fats and sugar. Also alcohol because that is actually a neurotoxin.
https://www.concussionalliance.org/nutrition
https://www.weightandwellness.com/resources/articles-and-videos/nutrition-help-concussions/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/concussion/symptoms-causes/syc-20355594
I posted a few links which I hope are good sources of information for you. It’s wonderful that your friend has you in her life to be so concerned for her welfare. Wish her well from me.

Is your friend’s doctor concerned of any long term damage to her brain?

Hi @dmbovee, I would like to add my welcome to Connect along with @loribmt. I thought you might also find the following references useful, especially the second one from the National Institutes of Health. Hoping your friend recovers soon.

-- From the Brain Injury Hope Foundation - Feed Your Brain To Boost Recovery: https://www.braininjuryhopefoundation.org/feed-your-brain-to-boost-recovery/
-- Supplements, nutrition, and alternative therapies for the treatment of traumatic brain injury: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5491366/