How nutrition aids in recovery

Learning how specific foods affect recovery

Some benefits of good nutrition choices are improving blood pressure, increasing immunity, and keeping skin and hair healthy. Healthy fats are vital for blood clotting, hormone production, muscle function, and much more. Consumption of water affects nearly every body function. Learning how specific foods affect recovery is something you can start even before you enter treatment.

Eating whole foods containing the amino acid tyrosine will help boost dopamine levels. This list of food types includes whole grains, cheese, bananas, and lean beef. Tyrosine can help counter intense substance cravings early in your treatment program.

Sugar consumption can be a problem during treatment and increase anxiety and depression. Lowering sugar cravings can come from eating whole foods that are rich in L-glutamine. These foods include dark, leafy greens such as spinach and kale as well as beets, carrots, and beans. Lower sugar intake can help reduce inflammation during addiction treatment.

Failing to eat

Users may have a suppressed appetite or forget to eat while under the influence.

Eating poorly

Those who are addicted to drugs or alcohol tend to prioritize their substance abuse over eating properly. As a result, their diets can be poor and lack sustenance.

Malnourishment

Malnourishment can result from failing to eat consistently over time or from the body’s inability to absorb nutrients necessary for biological processes.

Overeating

Eating too much can lead to obesity and a number of health conditions associated with excess body fat.

Organ damage

Substance abuse can damage the liver, stomach lining, pancreas, and intestines, all of which contribute to the proper absorption, digestion, and storage of nutrients.

Immune system damage

Substances such as alcohol and opiates can suppress the immune system and make the user more susceptible to infections and illnesses.

Gastrointestinal disorders

Alcohol can contribute to chronic gastrointestinal tract inflammation, irritable bowel syndrome, leaky gut syndrome, pathogenic bacterial overgrowth, fungal intestinal infections, and acid reflux.

Hypoglycemia

Low blood sugar can be caused by a lack of sustenance or proper diet.

Alcohol abuse

Those who abuse alcohol often have poor diets and often don’t make proper nutrition a priority. Alcohol abuse interferes with the breakdown and absorption of nutrients due to damage of the stomach lining and digestive enzyme deficiencies. Chronic alcohol abuse can significantly harm the pancreas and the liver. The pancreas produces enzymes and pro-enzymes for the digestion of lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, and hormones that delicately balance blood sugar levels, while the liver metabolizes toxins, such as alcohol and drugs. Damage to these two vital organs can lead to an imbalance of electrolytes, protein, calories, and fluids.

Persistent alcohol abuse can cause severe nutritional and vitamin deficiencies. The most common include folic acid, vitamin B6, thiamine or vitamin B1. These vitamin deficiencies can cause anemia and neurological issues.

Anemia can lead to frequently feeling cold, fatigue, and dizziness, as well as experiencing headaches and shortness of breath. A serious complication caused by a lack of thiamine or B1, is Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome, which can lead to severe learning and memory problems.

Opioids / opiates

Withdrawal from opioids such as heroin, codeine, morphine, oxycontin, percocet, and vicodin can include symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, which can deplete the body of nutrients. This depletion of nutrients can cause electrolyte imbalances, and lead to dehydration. Although it can be difficult to eat during withdrawal, balanced meals that include complex carbohydrates can reduce the intensity of the symptoms.

Stimulants

Stimulants such as amphetamines and cocaine, cause increased energy, euphoria, and decreased appetite in users. Satiety centers within the brain are influenced by the activity of stimulant drugs. Through mechanisms not altogether well understood, their presence in the brain can send signals that turn down our drive to eat. Stimulant users will often stay up for days at a time and repeatedly use the drug. These binges may lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances due to a significant decrease in appetite and inattention to nutrition. Long-term use can lead to severe weight loss and malnutrition.

Malnutrition risks

Substance use disorders and poor eating habits often go hand in hand. Unfortunately, this combination will often result in malnutrition, which can produce the several effects.

• Suppressed immune system

• Muscle wasting

• Inadequate respiratory muscle strength for forceful coughing, increasing the risk of pulmonary infection and lengthened recovery duration

• Impaired healing of wounds

• Cardiac rhythm disturbances

• Low body temperature

• Psychological and cognitive issues (depression, low self-esteem, apathy, confusion, and a lack of sex drive)

How nutrition helps

Long-term substance abuse puts remarkable stress on the mind and body. Proper nutrition can help both the brain and the body heal from chronic substance abuse and increase the user’s odds of getting and staying sober. You may be tempted to indulge in junk food while you’re recovering from addiction. But this can actually hinder your recovery process and make it more difficult for you to stay clean. The best option is to eat a nutritious diet that will foster physical and mental health and improve your chances for long-term sobriety.

• Repair of damage to organs and tissues

• Improved immune defenses

• Increased energy

• Improved mood

• Reduced risk of relapse due to fatigue or depressed mood

Get more complex carbs

Complex carbohydrates provide you with steady, long-lasting energy without the spike and crash of simple carbs.

Exercise

Regular exercise can boost your mood, improve body image, increase energy levels, alleviate cravings, and lower the risk of relapse in recovering addicts.

Take vitamins & supplements

Vitamins A and C, zinc, and B-complex vitamins can help restore any deficiencies. But talk with your physician first. Amino acid supplements can also help repair neurotransmitters in the brain.

Reduce caffeine

Caffeine can cause dehydration as well as appetite suppression.

Drink plenty of water

People who are recovering from addiction are often dehydrated. Consume water with meals and in-between mealtimes.

Monitor your sugar intake

Many addicts may crave sweets because they trigger dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter activated by some forms of drug use.

Avoid processed foods

They lack nutritional value and typically have unhealthy fats.