Recovering from substance abuse requires all of the help and strength that you can get, internally and externally. This may come in the form of social support, emotional well being, or physical strength and each one of these affects another. More specifically, your diet and overall physical health can lead to depression, low energy, and other factors that can keep you from being successful in recovery. Proper nutrition and an overall holistic drug treatment program play a major role in giving any addict their best chance at recovery.
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Nutrition Deficiencies & Substance Abuse
Specific effects each type of drug has on your body’s hunger and ability to process food can be typical and expected. In fact, a study published in pubmed.gov found that people with substance abuse disorders “typically suffer from nutritional deficiencies” which are connected with alcoholic myopathy, bone disorders, and mood disorders. However, the connection between nutrition and drug use may differ from one substance to another. For instance, long term alcohol use leads to soft stool and frequent diarrhea which can, in turn, lead to dehydration. On the other hand, opioids can lead to constipation and stimulants are often connected with malnutrition. Other common nutrition issues connected with substance abuse include:
- Low blood sugar
- Inability to absorb nutrients due to long term malnourishment.
- Compromised immune system
- Gastrointestinal disorders
- Lack of appetite
- Damage to organs responsible for digestion and nutrient absorption
Nutrition & Detox
The physical toll that nutrition takes on a person’s body is why proper nutrition is critical during substance abuse treatment and soecifically the detox process. Most types of detox lead to withdrawal symptoms that include intense sweating, vomiting, and diarrhea. These symptoms can cause severe dehydration. Additionally, the symptoms of withdrawal can cause severe fatigue. Proper nutrition included as a part of a detox center’s program can help boost your energy and mood, as well as decrease the overall time it takes to detox.
At a detox center, caregivers can help:
- prevent dehydration by encouraging you to drink water or by administering IV fluids,
- provide foods that are lighter and easier to digest (such as Jell-O, soup, and crackers),
- administer supplements to avoid vitamin deficiencies,
- encourage the consumption of high fiber foods that counteract constipation,
- introduce meal routines that encourage an overall healthy relationship with food.
Nutrition & Long-term Addiction Recovery
In terms of time, detox is a small part of your journey and recovering addicts need to acknowledge how nutrition can affect their sobriety in the long term. As mentioned previously, a healthy diet and nutrition intake can help your body mentally and physically, making you stronger maintain your sobriety somewhat easier. Once you have detoxed and you are working through the following steps of recovery, here are a few nutritional and dietary tips to remember:
- Eat foods that are composed of complex carbs, high in vitamins and minerals, high in fiber, and have low amounts of sugar. Hint: this includes vegetables, lentils, beans, and some grains.
- Get lots of protein in your diet. Consider eating more fish, chicken, turkey, beans, lentils and other foods that are low in fat and high in protein.
- Consider using supplements to get a solid vitamin and mineral intake. Talk to your doctor to determine which supplements could help you best.
- Maintain the meal schedule established during detox to help keep your blood sugar levels balanced.
- Drink lots of water!
As a part of the holistic drug treatment programs at Level Up Lake Worth, we help our clients maintain a healthy diet during treatment, as well as providing guidance for after treatment. One of the benefits of recovery through a substance abuse treatment program is that you don’t have to worry about finding the best thing to eat to keep your mind and body in the right place for long term sobriety.
Get started on your road to recovery. Call (877)872-7730!
FAQs About the Importance of Nutrition in Substance Abuse Treatment
How do drugs and alcohol affect a person’s body and nutrition?
When someone uses drugs or alcohol, they often forget to eat healthy meals. Some substances make a person lose their appetite, while others cause the body to burn through vitamins way too fast. Understanding the importance of nutrition in substance abuse treatment starts with realizing that addiction leaves the body starved of the fuel it needs to stay strong and fight off sickness.
Why does good food help a person feel better during recovery?
Eating healthy food is like giving your body the right materials to rebuild itself. Foods with plenty of vitamins and minerals help repair damaged organs and give you natural energy. A big part of the importance of nutrition in substance abuse treatment is that good nutrition helps fix the physical “wear and tear” caused by substances, making a person feel stronger and less tired each day.
Can what you eat change your mood and emotions?
Yes! Your brain uses the food you eat to make “happy chemicals” like serotonin, which keeps your mood steady. If you only eat junk food, your brain might not have what it needs to stay calm. The importance of nutrition in substance abuse treatment includes using healthy meals to help lower feelings of anger, sadness, and anxiety, which makes it much easier to handle the stressful days of recovery.
How does nutrition help with cravings?
Sometimes, when your body is low on sugar or vitamins, it sends out a signal that feels exactly like a craving for drugs or alcohol. Eating regular, balanced meals keeps your blood sugar steady so you don’t get super hungry. In the importance of nutrition in substance abuse treatment, keeping the body full of good food helps quiet down those sudden, loud cravings that tempt a person to slip up.
What kind of foods are best to eat during recovery?
The best foods are simple and close to nature. This includes lots of colorful fruits and vegetables, proteins like chicken or beans, and whole grains like brown rice. Drinking plenty of water is also key to flushing out old toxins. A major lesson in the importance of nutrition in substance abuse treatment is learning to choose these healthy options over sugary snacks that cause your energy to crash later.
How can someone start a healthy eating plan?
You don’t have to change everything overnight. You can start by adding one fruit to your breakfast or drinking a glass of water instead of soda. The goal in the importance of nutrition in substance abuse treatment is to build steady, everyday habits. Over time, these small changes add up, helping your body and brain get stronger, healthier, and ready for a bright future.