Preventive medicine holds that if you take steps to avoid injury, it is less likely to occur. Another preventive measure is to provide for your body from the inside out: Feed your body what it needs to work to capacity, and it will be better able to perform. To that end, nutritional therapy can help. This includes:

• A regular source of high-quality protein as part of your meals.

• Vitamin C to support healing, reduce swelling, repair tissue, and keep ligaments and tendons strong.

• Calcium and magnesium as essential for bone and muscle health.

• Bromelain to help reduce swelling, especially when taken with turmeric.

• Zinc as important for bone health and tissue repair.

• Omega-3 fatty acids, such as flax and fish oils, as natural anti-inflammatories.