Whey Protein – Great Supplement for Healthy Tissue Healing

Skeletal muscle Bone Perimysium Blood vessel M...

Image via Wikipedia

Whenever you suffer an injury to the musculoskeletal system, there is some degree of tissue damage.  In minor sprains and strains, it is microscopic tears to the fascia, muscle fibers, tendons and ligaments; in major sprains and strains it is complete rupture or tearing of large groups of muscle, ligament and/or tendon fibers.

The first thing the body does at the onset of the injury is initiate the inflammatory response.  Various biochemicals constitute inflammation; each having an important role.  Inflammation confines the injury to the injury site and is actually the first step in tissue repair.  It is only when it is overproduced that it becomes a problem in itself (which is why you should use ice therapy to mediate swelling  the first few days after an injury).

At some point, the body sends special cells called fibroblasts to the injury site.  These cells synthesize connective tissue comprised of collagen to close the tears of the injury.

Collagen is the main protein of connective tissue in animals, making up 25%-35% of the total protein content .   It forms as elongated fibrils (long chain of amino acids in a strand formation) and is mostly found in fibrous tissues such as tendon, ligament and skin, as well as other places in the body.

Therefore, after sustaining an injury, the body needs a ready supply of protein in order to properly heal itself.  If you recently sustained a soft tissue injury such as a sports injury to a joint, whiplash car accident, or sprained your lower back from heavy lifting, make sure you are eating enough protein.   I recommend whey protein due to its ability to be digested very rapidly, making it available for use shortly after consumption.  Whey is a protein-rich byproduct that is formed during cheese formation, usually from cow’s milk.

Body builders and athletes drink whey protein shakes after workouts to help increase amino acid levels in the blood, which are taken up by the muscles to ultimately increase mass. During exercise, whey helps improve blood flow by inhibiting an enzyme that constricts blood vessels; this allows better flow of nutrients to needed areas to help repair and rebuild muscle tissues.

Leucine is an amino acid found in whey protein shakes.  When leucine is ingested in high amounts it stimulates protein synthesis, which may speed recovery and adaptation to the stress that occurs from heavy exercise and injuries.

Another good source of protein is eggs.  Eggs are a complete source of protein, especially the yolk.  Cook them at low heat; and if you have the stomach for it, eat them raw.

How to Relieve Pain from Hot Peppers

Habanero pepper

Habanero pepper (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Peppers contain a substance called capsaicin that gives them that hot sensation when exposed to thin membranes such as in the mouth, eyes, nose, and open wounds on the body.  The amount of capsaicin determines the “hotness” of the pepper.  Bell peppers are on the low end, while habanero peppers are on the high end.

Research shows that capsaicin, despite its fiery reputation can reduce inflammation.  There are now over the counter pain relief products that contain capsaicin, mostly topical applications.  The capsaicin creates a mild burning sensation on the skin, resulting in a counter-irritant effect that may temporarily relieve muscle pain.

Some people may apply too much of the product on their skin and suffer from a very uncomfortable burning area on their body that doesn’t go away with soap and water.  If you find yourself in this situation, here are some suggestions:

1.  Rub coconut oil over the area.   You can buy virgin coconut oil in most health food stores.  It is even better if it is in a  solidified state (below melting temperature).

2.  If it is a case where you ate a pepper, don’t try to wash it out with icewater; instead, gargle whole milk for 30 seconds; spit out.  Repeat three times.

You can experiment with other types of fats such as olive oil, lard, and butter.

Before handling very hot peppers in preparation for cooking (especially if you are going to slice them and expose the capsaicin) coat your hands in olive oil.

By all means, do not touch the eyes and nose during the handling, and even several minutes after you’ve handled very hot peppers and washed your hands, just in case.

Website Launch

After months of planning, my new video blog PainandInjuryDoctor.com is finally up and running!

This has been something I’ve wanted to do since 2004 but my “real job” of being a busy doctor of chiropractic demanded most of my time; not to mention the addition of my son Sean who came into this world in late 2007 just when I was conceptualizing the format of this site.

However, things happen for a reason.  The delay in the launch was a blessing in disguise as I accumulated a vast amount of knowledge in musculoskeletal pain treatment and management over the past several years.  After being in practice for a while, eventually you feel like you’ve treated “everything under the sun.”  I believe I am close to this, as it’s been a long time since I’ve had a patient who presented with something I haven’t seen before.

This site will basically serve as a visual repository of what I know about treating common forms of musculoskeletal pain seen in the population.  What is the point of doing this?  I’ll let you in on a little secret:  there are lots of self-care strategies to relieve and even cure most cases of common, musculoskeletal pain, and help prevent them from returning or happening in the first place.   This can lead to faster recovery and lower doctor’s bills.  It can even help reduce national health care costs if more people knew about them.  And that would be a good thing for everyone!

The videos will be produced with the common patient in mind as the audience.  They will have this basic format:

1.  Description of condition

  • Brief anatomy lesson
  • How it usually happens and it’s typical progression if left untreated

2.  Self-Help Measures

  • Overview
  • Supplies needed
  • Demonstration of technique
  • Monitoring and future actions

And, I’ve reached the part where I need to make a disclaimer:

The content of this site is not meant to diagnose and cure your particular condition, as the standards of medical care require a face-to-face examination to arrive at a definite diagnosis and prognosis.  Consult with your doctor if you have a medical condition.

This site only serves to provide self help information on and an understanding of common forms of musculoskeletal pain that are not emergency/ life threatening in nature.

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