Joint and bone injuries are bad enough, but when you are a world-class Olympic skier, these can be devastating. Nobody knows the crushing defeat felt by serious injury better than Janine “The Machine” Shepherd.

Her life and sporting career was brought to a sudden stop by a tragic accident. However, despite broken bones throughout her body, her optimism kept her spirit from being broken too.

Broken in Body, Not in Spirit

Janine is now a world-renowned motivational speaker and shares her story of overcoming serious physical injuries.

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While preparing for the Olympics, she was struck by a truck while training on her bicycle. She recalls riding up a hill one moment and then waking up in the spinal ward of a hospital the next. Having trained vigorously for most of her life, Janine suddenly realized just how fragile the human body is.

With her back broken in six places, a broken collarbone, broken arm, broken feet, and head and internal injuries that resulted in a massive amount of blood loss, doctors did not give her a strong chance of survival. She watched her dream of being an Olympic athlete float away as professionals told her that she would be paralyzed.

Miraculously, however, she pulled through and attributes her recovery to being stronger in spirit than she was in body. After lying in a spinal ward for six months, Janine set herself the goal of walking again and with gradual re-training, she succeeded.

Despite regaining the ability to walk, her athletic goals were still shattered. Whereas most people would lose hope and withdraw from life, Janine became the machine she was nicknamed for and moved full steam ahead.

Looking up at the sky one day, Janine realized that if walking was a strain, maybe she could fly instead, literally.

In 23 short months, she earned a pilot’s license and felt a new rush of freedom as she took to the skies.

Now, as Australia’s youngest and first female director of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, Janine was a real-life inspiration. She shares her story across the globe to remind us that our physical bodies may have limitations, but the mind can power us to do anything.

Broken bones can be devastating, but they do not have to be the end.

Healing Broken Bones

Apart from showing us how courage and a positive mindset can overcome any obstacle, Janine’s story shows us that our body may be limited, but it can be healed. Broken bones can be debilitating, but there are natural options that can speed up recovery and healing when used in addition to surgical procedures.

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With the possibility of adverse reactions to medications, many people turn to alternative options when it comes to recovery. Dietary changes, supplemental support, and physical therapy are all ways to help bones heal faster so you can get back to living.

When natural treatments are combined with a positive outlook like Janine’s, your bones can heal even faster.

There are certain foods you can add to your diet when in recovery to help speed up the bone healing process. In addition to healing, these foods contain ingredients that promote overall bone and joint health; to keep you performing at optimal levels long after the injury has faded.

Calcium-Rich Foods: Calcium is one of the most essential minerals for bone health. Without this, your bones cannot maintain healthy mass, which would leave your skeleton poorly supported and at risk for serious injury.

Foods that are rich in calcium include green leafy vegetables, salmon, sea vegetables, and unsweetened cultured dairy like yogurt and kefir.

Zinc-Rich Foods: The chemical processes that are required to rebuild damaged bone needs zinc. The foods you want to add to your diet are beef, spinach, and pumpkin seeds.

Vitamin K: This essential vitamin is necessary for bone formation so to promote stronger and faster healing eat more broccoli, spinach, kale, and raw dairy products like kefir.

Collagen Boosters: Collagen is a major component to the skeletal structure so is likely to need repair along with your bones after an injury. One easy way to boost collagen levels is through a bone support supplement containing collagen.

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Vitamin C-rich foods, such as citrus fruits, strawberries, bell peppers, and tomatoes, also help to rebuild cartilage.

The Best Medicine

Outside of dietary inclusions, you can focus on several important supplements to boost bone and joint health. Not only can these speed up healing from injury, but they keep your bones strong and less resistant to injury.

The best bone and joint health supplements will include boswellia serrata and curcumin, two ingredients essential to healing and overall health. It seems that they can also benefit bone recovery after injury.

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Studies have shown that curcumin can help to build bones. Used primarily for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits, curcumin also seems to inhibit mechanisms that promote osteoclast development.

These are a type of bone cell that breaks down bones tissue, which is not what you want after an injury. The anti-inflammatory benefits can also help control inflammation at the injury site which will allow for a more speedy recovery.

Boswellia serrata is also a powerful anti-inflammatory agent, which makes it ideal for supporting injured bones and joints.

Janine’s story affirms that broken bones hurt especially during recovery. There were times when she almost gave up because the pain was so bad.

Inflammation and swelling cause much of this pain. However, since boswellia serrata is one of the most efficient natural pain relievers available, it’s an essential ingredient to have in a bone health support supplement.

The Bottom Line

Janine “The Machine” Shepherd may have been knocked off course to be a famous Olympic skier, but her accident and injuries paved a new course of success. Rather than being beaten by broken bones, her spirit gained strength from the accident and pushed her to new freedom.

The body does have limitations, but medications, procedures, and quality natural supplements can help support the body. Not only can they support healing but they encourage strength from within.

With natural support, your body and bones can have the strength to match the strongest mindset. You too can be a machine who, even if you do break like Janine, you will not stay broken for long.

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You can encourage your own joint health and mobility with our EasyFlex Joint Relief Formula. Combining the benefits of undenatured type II collagen, curcumin (turmeric) and Boswellia Serrata, EasyFlex is specially formulated to promote optimal joint health.

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