The Top Ten Fruits and Veggies for Treating Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury

Did you know that pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the most common cause of death in children?

According to recent statistics, an estimated 240,000 children suffer from pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) every year. Although it can be difficult to heal these types of injuries (depending on their severity), there are many things that parents can do to help their child to have a faster recovery. The goal of treatment is to promote healing and to prevent long-term complications that can occur as a result of TBI.

The best method in helping children to recover from a traumatic brain injury is to provide them with the most nutritious diet possible, as it has been proven to drastically speed up their healing process. In order to give the injured brain time to heal, healthcare professionals recommend eating foods high in antioxidants and nutrients that support cognitive function. It’s especially important that young children with this type of injury eat as many fruits and vegetables as possible, as their brains need a great deal of help during the healing process in order to make a full recovery. Fruits and veggies are packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other nutrients that support our bodies' natural ability to heal. They also support cognitive function through iron absorption. Pediatricians are increasingly recognizing that dietary changes may also have therapeutic value in treating TBI in children by addressing other side effects of TBI, such as cravings for high-sugar foods such as sweets, chocolate, and candy.

Here are the top ten fruits and veggies that can help kids with TBI to heal faster and more effectively:

1. Apricots

Along with being rich in phytochemicals, which are plant compounds that function as antioxidants, apricots also have many health benefits, such as helping to treat pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI). Apricots contain vitamin A, which increases serotonin levels in your brain and can help with mood regulation while helping to repair damaged brain cells. This fruit also contains vitamin B6, which supports healthy brain function by increasing cognitive function and memory. Additionally, apricots also contain vitamin C, which helps your body heal from injuries such as those caused by TBIs. Research has found that compounds in apricots called beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and lycopene may all play a role in protecting against brain injuries or other injuries to the head. They are also high in fiber, making them beneficial to a child's gastrointestinal tract and overall digestion. Eat whole apricots or mix them with other fruits for a boost of antioxidants during recovery.

2. Carrots

Carrots are jam-packed with Vitamin A, which is important in treating pediatric TBI. Vitamin A also has antioxidant properties that help protect your child's brain cells from free radical damage. Carrots are a perfect complement to TBI recovery because they are high in fiber, making them filling enough to keep little bellies full—no small feat when you're dealing with a hungry kid. Not only does fiber fill up little tummies, but it also aids digestion (thereby strengthening one of many possible causes of concussion) and stabilizes blood sugar levels so kids don't become ravenous between meals. If possible, opt for organic carrots over conventionally grown carrots. The latter can have as much as 100 times more pesticide residue than their organic counterparts.

3. Celery

Celery is high in vitamins C, K, B6, calcium, potassium, and manganese. Celery is also a good source of fiber and folate - all of which contribute to healthy living. This crunchy vegetable is a member of the allium family, which includes garlic and onions. Alliums have been shown to have antioxidant properties that can help reduce free radical damage in children recovering from traumatic brain injury. When eaten raw, celery can further help in reducing inflammation. Raw celery has compounds called coumarins that have anti-inflammatory properties and are believed to help with migraines and help to protect against brain injury. For pediatric traumatic brain injury in children, eating raw celery before physical activity may also help to prevent brain damage. Most adults should consume 2 servings of fruits or vegetables each day, but children with health issues may need more servings per day to ensure they get adequate nutrition during their recovery process.

4. Ginger

When children are suffering from traumatic brain injuries, they may experience nausea. Ginger has been used in Chinese medicine to treat nausea, and many doctors suggest parents give their children ginger when they experience post-concussion nausea or vomiting after a traumatic brain injury. Some research shows that ginger is most effective if given within two hours of symptoms developing.

Ginger also contains a memory-enhancing ingredient called shogaol. Shogaol has been proven to help in treating pediatric TBI in children by protecting their brain cells from damage while improving blood flow to these regions. In addition, a study found that those suffering from a moderate TBI saw 50% reductions in headaches when taking ginger supplements regularly over six weeks. Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties that make it especially helpful in treating kids with TBI. While further research needs to be carried out on ginger's effects on mild and severe TBIs, initial studies are encouraging enough to warrant widespread adoption of its use as an aid to recovery.

Adding ginger to your child’s diet may be an easy way to boost health during recovery. You can buy dried ginger in grocery stores, or you can chop up fresh ginger root and add it to foods like salads, soups, or pasta dishes. One of the easiest ways to incorporate ginger into your child's meals is by adding it to your daily stir fry - they'll hardly notice it! Just be sure not to overdo it, as too much ginger can cause an upset stomach. Start small with a teaspoon per day and work your way up from there.

5. Kale

Bright-green kale is a nutrient powerhouse and one of nature’s best sources of vitamin K, which is an essential nutrient with powerful effects for treating TBI. Vitamin K helps to regulate blood clotting and has been shown to improve neurological outcomes following a brain injury. Additionally, kale is high in lutein, which protects against age-related macular degeneration—another disease that can affect vision after a traumatic head injury.

Focusing on children with pediatric TBI, researchers have found that consuming kale significantly improves their scores on assessments of memory and attention. In an experiment involving 10 kids with TBI, who were six to 15 years old, they were divided into two groups. Half of the kids ate 2 cups of chopped raw kale daily while the other half received no added greens to their diet. After six weeks, all 10 kids took tests of memory and attention. Those who had been eating kale performed better overall on these assessments than those who hadn’t consumed any. What’s more, researchers found that getting extra servings of fruits and vegetables every day - even without kale - improved study participants’ test scores as well.

As a bonus, one cup of cooked kale contains just 33 calories. You can also try sautéing it as a side dish or even making homemade chips! Just make sure to remove its tough center stem first. For your next big stir fry or salad, consider swapping out broccoli or spinach for some kale instead.

6. Kiwi

Kiwi has been proven to be high in both vitamin C and potassium. In 2011, researchers from Case Western Reserve University found that vitamin C (ascorbic acid) was capable of slowing down neuron death following TBI. A study published in 2004 by a team at Boston's Children Hospital found that kiwi has high levels of vitamin C and potassium. Potassium is important because it helps reduce post-injury swelling.

One of the kiwi's main components is a substance called L-citrulline. A study published in 2017 noted that supplementing mice with L-citrulline may help to preserve normal brain activity after traumatic brain injury. This occurs by way of the compound boosting levels of a neurotransmitter called glutamate, which plays an essential role in healthy cognitive function. Kiwi also contains lots of fiber to help in moving things along the digestive tract, while also preventing constipation, which can be a major problem in many pediatric TBI patients.

A 2007 study by Drs. Jeffrey Raskin, Richard White, and Jack Moriarty found that kiwi fruit has very powerful anti-inflammatory properties and they suggest further studies be performed to determine if eating kiwi fruit may help reduce inflammation after brain injury. The same research team also determined kiwi's antioxidant capacity to be twice as effective as blueberries in an animal model with traumatic brain injury.

7. Mangos

Mangoes are an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin A, and other vitamins that can help in reducing free radical damage in children with traumatic brain injury. One cup of this colorful fruit is filled with zinc, potassium, magnesium, and folate, which are all important for wound healing. Its high content of vitamin C can also help to speed up wound repair. In addition to its excellent healing properties, a whole mango only contains 70 calories, which makes it a healthy snacking option!

A research study published in 2008 found that mangos significantly increased collagen production, which is a crucial part of wound repair. The researchers used mannequin heads to simulate wounds, dabbed them with mango juice, and then applied pressure every day for five days. After just a few days, they noticed that mannequins with mango-juice-treated wounds healed much faster than those without treatment. Eating mangoes regularly could have a similar effect on the treatment of scarring or damage to other organs or tissue for children recovering from TBI.

8. Papaya

Papaya can help to prevent the damaging effects of oxidation that are thought to play a role in brain injury. Papayas also contain an enzyme called papain that could potentially boost recovery from injuries like concussions. Additionally, some animal studies have shown that eating papaya may help decrease inflammation following injury, which is important for avoiding long-term damage. At least one human study has shown beneficial effects after patients ate about two pounds of papaya daily for six weeks. In terms of side effects, most people tolerate papayas well even when eaten in high doses. However, patients with kidney disease should avoid them as they can cause uric acid levels to rise dramatically.

9. Peaches

Peaches are rich in vitamin C, folate, fiber, beta-carotene, and potassium, which are nutrients that are essential for healthy brain function and healing brain tissue by reducing inflammation. In addition, they contain antioxidants known as polyphenols which have been found to play a role in preventing memory loss or impairment. The vitamins and minerals found in peaches are crucial components of neuroprotection as they support neurons and glial cells by aiding brain cell communication (thus preventing injury) in addition to containing various antioxidants. A recent study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that higher peach consumption was associated with less cognitive decline over time.

10. Strawberries

Strawberries are another antioxidant-rich fruit that helps to improve cognitive functions, such as learning and memory. Strawberries also contain high levels of vitamin C, which is known to improve brain function and recovery time after injury. Research has found that strawberry extract is effective in reducing oxidative stress, thereby treating mild brain injury in rats. Increased inflammation is associated with poor neurological outcomes after brain trauma in both adults and children. Previous studies have shown that strawberries can inhibit this inflammation of the neurons and actually protect the brain from damage. Additionally, a single serving of strawberries is only around 30 calories, which makes them a great healthy snack choice for kids! Add some fresh strawberries to your child's diet to take advantage of these health benefits.

Although treating pediatric traumatic brain injury can prove to be a challenge for parents, one of the first steps in your child's healing process should be to ensure that they have a healthy diet, consisting of lots of fruits and vegetables. There are many additional treatment options that should be considered and implemented into their recovery while encouraging a healthy lifestyle. Examples of treatment methods with proven success rates in treating TBI in children include getting adequate sleep, engaging in light physical activity, participating in activities they enjoy (i.e. sports, playing with friends, etc.), physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, chiropractic care, and psychological services. As always, it’s recommended that you discuss your child's treatment options with their doctor before making any decisions about their care plan, starting any new therapies, or taking new supplements. Working together, you can ensure that you stay on track towards full recovery of your child's brain injury while ensuring continued safety and effectiveness with their treatments.