The Foods That Support Cell Regeneration and Help Your Body Heal

How can I recover faster? After an injury, surgery, ongoing inflammation, or even an acne breakout, cell regeneration begins and the body goes into repair mode. It’s a complex, energy-intensive process that places high demands on our cells.

Stem cells are the foundation of the human body. As newborns and young children, we have an abundance of stem cells to develop, grow, and recover quickly from infection and injury. However, as we age, the number of circulating stem cells in the body begins to decrease, making healing and recovery more difficult and lengthy.

The good news is that what you put on your plate (especially at night, a critical time for cell regeneration) can make a difference. Protein, the right carbohydrates, essential fatty acids, and targeted micronutrients can all keep your cells happier and healthier. Here is an overview of naturopathic-approved foods that can help skin, tissue, and other parts of the body heal faster.

Protein + Carbohydrates + Fatty Acids = The Essential Trio for Cell Regeneration

“The healing process requires a greater intake of protein energy, which is critical for tissue rebuilding and collagen synthesis,” says naturopathic physician Lydie Palmieri. It’s simple: more protein creates more new cells. Consider eating small amounts of oily fish (especially sardines and mackerel), eggs, beans and high-quality meats.

“For efficient collagen synthesis, don’t forget carbs, too,” adds Palmieri. This could mean potatoes, sweet potatoes, rice and parsnips. Essential fatty acids help fight inflammation and boost immunity. and healing properties, which can be found in fatty fish (salmon, sardines, bluefin tuna), high-quality virgin oils (flax, rapeseed) and seeds.

If you want to take it a step further, you can also consume micronutrients and trace elements such as vitamin A (eggs, carrots and broccoli), zinc (shellfish, red meat, rye bread, cheese and yogurt) and selenium (Brazil nuts, seafood, whole grain cereals).

Eating more of these foods at dinner is especially helpful because your cells begin to regenerate at night. With such a diverse source of nutrients, it’s easy to incorporate into your evening recipes.

“Of course,” Palmieri added. “Remember to stay hydrated to help oxygenate the scar tissue.”