Polio damages motor nerves which supply muscles, leaving survivors with weakness and fatigue. This does not mean, however, that it is impossible for you to get stronger. You still have motor nerves supplying portions of each muscle group, so by strength-training in many short bursts throughout the day, starting at a manageable level of resistance and very gradually increasing it, you can get stronger.
The Importance of a High Protein Diet
This will only be possible, however if you take in sufficient protein. Protein provides the amino acids needed to build and repair your muscles, bones, cartilage and skin. Protein drives your metabolic reactions, transports and stores nutrients and can act as an energy source.
Polio survivors need protein early and often. You should eat three to five times a day and have protein at every meal, especially at breakfast. It’s a good idea to eat immediately after getting up – have breakfast before showering and getting dressed to ‘fill your tank’ before making demands on your body. As the day progresses, have small, noncarbohydrate snacks throughout the day.
Examples of high protein, low carbohydrate foods:
Is it safe to take protein supplement drinks?
Yes. If you have a low appetite, you can support your food intake with a protein supplement. These are dry powders to which you add water or milk to make a drink similar to squash or milkshake. You can take them several times a day to help you reach you protein target, though it is always better to eat as much ‘real food’ as you can, since it has lots of other benefits besides giving you protein.