I’ve never had a broken bone in my life and up until just a week ago, neither had either of my boys. But last Friday, I got an unexpected call from the school letting me know that my oldest son had been hurt on the playground and couldn’t move his arm. I rushed to the school, took Zackary to the hospital and soon discovered that both of his wrist bones were broken. Now, Zackary is in a cast for about a month and of course, my goal is to ensure that he heals as fast as possible. After some reading and research, these are the three methods I’m using to help my son recover:
Optimal Nutrition
One of the things I was most surprised to learn is that plenty of protein is one of the most important aspects of healing a broken bone. Because bones are made of living protein, getting enough each day is essential in helping a broken bone heal. Additionally, adequate amounts of calcium, zinc, magnesium, Vitamin C and Vitamin D are a must for rebuilding strong bones. That’s why Zackary’s been starting every day with ND Shake Kids for breakfast since getting his cast. Packed with plant protein, healthy fat, antioxidants and all the vitamins and minerals a child needs, it’s an easy way for me to be sure he’s getting everything he needs to heal. Plus, Zackary loves them!
Extra Calories
Since Zackary’s body is working overtime healing his broken bone, it’s also burning extra calories. Most kids are only too happy to have a few extra snacks in a day and my son is no exception, but since I want to maintain that good nutrition as well, I’ve stocked up on healthy snack options so that Zackary always has good snack choices on hand. Fruit, cheese, fresh veggies and nuts are always popular nutritious snacks in this house. And any of the portable healthy snack ideas from the Orange Naturals blog are always a hit too!
Light Exercise
While Zackary has been staying inside during recess and gym for his first few days back at school, I’ve been trying to make sure he still does some light walking every day, if only down to the corner of the street to get the mail with me. While he certainly can’t run or jump much at the moment, ensuring that his body is moving means that he’s keeping his blood flow up, which helps promote healing. Even simple things like letting him carry his own backpack with his good arm or having him climb up and down the stairs on his own when he wants something from his room help make a difference in keeping his activity level up!
November is Osteoporosis Awareness Month, so even if you don’t have a child with broken bones at home, it’s a great time to think about ways to ensure everyone in your family has optimal bone health. While the ND Shakes work great for our family because they’re so quick and easy to make and packed with so many essential nutrients, Orange Naturals also offers many specialized products for bone health if you have more serious concerns. If you’re worried about osteoporosis, Orange Naturals Bone Health Advanced is a must!
While dealing with a broken bone is a new experience for me, I can see how much better Zackary is doing even after just a week. He’s waking up feeling excited to go to school and has lots of energy every day, even if he doesn’t have full mobility! I’m looking forward to learning how the healing has progressed when we go for his checkup in a few weeks but whether the cast can come off early or needs to stay on longer, I can rest easy knowing that Zackary’s body has everything it needs to help heal his bones and keep them strong in the future!
Disclosure: I am part of the Orange Naturals Mom Ambassador Program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.
Thanks for the info! Very interesting!
These shakes are such a good idea. They do think of everything these days. My brother broke both his wrists on a jungle gym when he was 7. He could have used these products.
Definitely curious about O Natural products….
Great tips! Good info.
great post! Love O Natural products!
Great to know, thanks.
Good advice. Luckily, I have never had to deal with a broken bone of my own.