Healthy Foods That Heal

The human body can suffer from many different injuries, wounds, illnesses and diseases. Your diet plays a very important role in your ability to fight off infection, prevent illness and heal when some type of trauma occurs. Bernard Jensen reports in his book, "Foods That Heal," that what you eat can influence how healthy you feel as well as how quickly you are able to heal. Adding some of the most powerful healing foods to your diet will enable you to begin the healing process.

Avocado

Avocados are often considered a super food because they contain heart healthy monounsaturated fats as well as several different vitamins and minerals. Adding avocados to your diet can help improve the health of your heart as well as reduce your risk for several different diseases. Eating avocados can also promote healing because the iron and copper they contain encourage red blood cell regrowth, Jensen notes, which is crucial following injury and surgery. The iron and copper can also help prevent anemia if your wound or illness caused a great deal of blood loss. Avocados pair well with Mexican food so slice one on top of tacos or roll into a tortilla with low-fat cheese. Mash an avocado with spices and onion to make a nutritious guacamole that can be served with corn tortilla wedges.

Flaxseed

Flaxseed is another super food that can promote healing as well as help prevent certain illnesses and disease. Flaxseed is a source of alpha-linolenic acid, which can help treat many different conditions, Reader's Digest reports in "Fight Back with Food: Use Nutrition to Heal with Ails You." The compounds in flaxseed work to reduce inflammation, a condition that can lead to cancer and heart disease. As your inflammation heals, your risk of suffering from adverse health problems is reduced significantly. Ground flaxseed can be used in your baking recipes and can also be added to foods like pizza crust and oatmeal. Yogurt pairs well with flaxseed as well so mix a tablespoon into your favorite yogurt to help get the benefits they offer.

Chili Peppers

The common cold affects many people each year and eating chili peppers can help. Chili peppers contain a compound called capsaicin, which is what gives them their spicy taste, Reader's Digest notes. Capsaicin can help relieve the stuffiness and congestion that often comes with the cold and flu. Capsaicin is also a powerful antioxidant that may help reduce your risk of developing serious illnesses, such as cancer and heart disease. Adding chopped peppers to soup or stew can help you add capsaicin to your diet. Spicy peppers can also be added to salsa and guacamole to increase the nutrition.