Can Healthy Diet Really Help in Recovery?
The right fuel in the body can provide an immense amount of energy, support, and mental clarity for a person in recovery. Health is holistic when it comes to diet and overall wellness. Addiction takes a toll on a person’s body but recovery can help a person’s body and mind recalibrate and rejuvenate. Find out how a healthy diet helps in recovery and how to get started.
Addiction and Diet
Stimulants, alcohol, and other types of drugs wreak havoc on the body and mind. Individuals use these drugs and typically don’t consume enough healthy food or get the necessary water to stay hydrated. Opiates can cause stomach issues, while people who drink too much can suffer extreme health issues. When the body is depleted of essential nutrients, it does not support a healthy overall outlook.
Healthy Food
The essential role of a healthy diet emphasizes the importance of incorporating diet and treatment in combination. When recovery focuses on the whole person, it is optimal for everyone involved. Perhaps more important than eating delicious, nutrient-dense meals, is learning how to create them. Eating healthy can keep you sober and also support you from feeling more triggered, leading to relapse.
Sobriety
Organs and tissues impacted by addiction can heal with the right nutrients. The body has a lot of energy stores when it gets the right amount of food and water to keep it going. While the body reaps the rewards of a healthy diet, the brain also benefits just as much. It is not uncommon for someone to get sober from drinking and drugging, then swap one addiction for another with food. The feelings a person experiences when craving sugar are similar to the urge to use cocaine. With some people, the more sugar they consume, the more their body wants sugar. Some good foods to eat in sobriety include:
- Macronutrients that aid in brain and body health
- Healthy fats like salmon, avocado, and nuts
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- Clean carbs like berries and whole grains
The way a person heals in recovery depends on their overall health coming into a program for treatment and how much they are willing to work on eating healthy. It takes time to let go of old habits and adopt new ones. When a person is fully ready to embrace a healthier lifestyle in recovery, they often find they feel better, look better, and approach recovery with a more positive mindset focused on the future.
The Palmetto Center is based on a Therapeutic Community model. We help people learn how to live free of addiction. Our community support provides structure while trained counselors offer life skills training and therapeutic techniques to help you move past addiction. Our program provides special focus for professionals including chiropractors, nurses, doctors, lawyers, and more who need help with addiction recovery. Call us to find out more: 866-848-3001.
