Nutrition During Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is sought after for many different reasons from lifelong muscle conditions to weight loss programs. Whilst many people are aware of the benefits of physiotherapy and often seek it out to lose weight or improve muscle capabilities, some are often oblivious to the importance of having a well-balanced nutritional program as well. For some people, poor diet is something they just can’t escape due to the demands of everyday life. However, your local therapy centre may be able to give you the advice you need to improve your diet and see physical results, especially if you are overweight. Some chronic illnesses and diabetes in particular require a good nutritional plan so keeping an eye on your diet is extremely important. In addition, many common health problems are related to diet more than exercise, such as obesity. Here are a few points about diet you should consider during physical therapy including things your therapist might tell you on your next visit.

Fibre

A positive intake of fibre is an extremely important component for any nutritional plan during physiotherapy as it helps fight off chronic illness. It is believed that most people fail to get anywhere near the recommended daily amount of fibre. Fibre is in all sorts of different foods such as fruit, vegetables and whole grain products. You can replace the usual white bread with brown bread and consider targeting five pieces of fruit and vegetables each day to improve your fibre intake.

Water

One of the most ignored dietary benefits that should be focused on during physiotherapy is water. Water is available wherever you are and helps to rid your body of toxins and keep cells fully hydrated. Unfortunately, other drinks have dominated the market so much that water seems to be playing second-fiddle nowadays. Almost every physical activity you partake in will recommend regular water intake so you should try and keep hold of a bottle wherever you go.

Regular Meals

Skipping breakfast or lunch might not seem like such a big deal in the short term but it generally contributes to a poor diet. Many people who are obese might consider cutting meals out of their day entirely to reduce their weight. However, food is the fuel our body needs to operate efficiently making exercise all the more difficult for someone who doesn’t have a daily meal plan. What’s more, missing meals will increase your hunger and probably result in you venturing to the nearest fast food stall. With that in mind, consider setting up a strict daily plan to follow and choose healthy meals that you are likely to find appetizing.

Maintaining proper nutrition during your physical therapy is a good way of getting motivated. If you are looking to lose weight or improve muscle performance, healthy eating plans can really enhance your ability to improve and positive results are likely to show up a whole lot faster.

About the Author

Kayleigh Tadley writes for a number of online publications on the subject of nutrition and wellbeing. She has contributed this post on behalf of the Therapy Centre in West Sussex, offering a range of physical and mental well being therapy services such as physiotherapy, pilates and acupuncture.