Nutritionists all tout "real food." What is real food? Ask yourself if what you are about to eat has been alive in the recent past. If the answer is no, it has probably been processed or preserved. Additives and processing can leave foods nutritionally void or indigestible and worse, they may introduce harmful chemicals into our bodies. So, fresh food is a good choice. Look at it and decide; was this living recently? If the answer is no, make another choice. Freshly frozen foods, if eaten just after defrosting, do not lose a significant portion of their nutritional value.

 "Bad foods" are obviously fine in moderation, but to avoid inflammation during muscle injury rehabilitation, it is important to avoid foods that cause inflammation and supplement with foods that reduce inflammation.

 During rehab, please avoid sugars and totally eliminate trans-fats. Supplement your diet with fish, fish oil supplements, or other omega-3 fatty acid sources. See the "good food" tab for other anti-inflammatory foods.