19 Foods to Heal & Recover Faster
Cereal Aisle
BUY
Fortified cereal
WHY
It contains zinc, a proven asset to the immune system and to healing wounds. Along with red meat, fortified cereals are the best sources (some deliver 100 percent of your recommended daily value). By itself, zinc doesn’t repair damaged tissue, but it assists the nutrients that do. “Just don’t overdo it,” Sass cautions, adding that too much–more than 40 grams a day for an adult–of this potent mineral lowers HDL cholesterol (the good kind) and actually suppresses your immune system. Cereal supplies moderate zinc doses as well as whole-grain carbohydrates, which fuel your body’s healing efforts and keep it from dipping into protein for energy. “Eating enough carbs ensures that your body puts all of its available protein toward repairs,” Sass explains.
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