If you or your loved one struggles with drug addiction, chances are nutrition will likely be the last thing on your mind. Unknown to many, nutrition encompasses a significant part of recovery from addiction, with various food choices helping you regain health and control over your body. This will require you to monitor what you eat and eat, with the help of professionals helping you decipher the right foods to help with your nutritional needs.
How Drug Addiction Affects Nutrition
Various drugs will have different effects on every individual, with the majority often leading to the same problems. A few of these impacts include loss of appetite, with the exception being marijuana use. Drug addicts also tend to consume poor food choices, such as fast food. This increases the risk of developing hypoglycemia, increasing fatigue, anxiety, and irritability.
Unfortunately, the above effects have been found to cause ripple effects by experts in https://www.ascendantny.com/connecticut-detox-centers/ reporting organ damage in patients for both the short term and long term. Organs such as the liver and pancreas can no longer break down food into the required nutrients, causing weight loss. Gastrointestinal disorders, vomiting, and diarrhea are also likely to occur, further lowering proper intake and absorption of nutrients into your body.
Proper Nutrition for Recovery
As stated above, nutrition will be a large part of your recovery, with any laxity in your diet choices likely to cause significant harm. To keep up with your diet needs, make it a point to choose foods high in serotonin. These can be starchy foods rich in complex carbohydrates such as lentils, peas, whole bread, and vegetables. Serotonin acts as a neurotransmitter necessary to balance your mood, ghrelin, the hunger hormone, and overall sleep levels. Proteins will also keep you full for longer, keeping your cravings for fast food and consumption of drugs in check.
Numerous addicts will often have lower levels of the vitamin B complex, causing deficiencies in folic acid and thiamine. This will also be followed by the loss of essential minerals such as zinc and magnesium. To overcome this, consider introducing dairy products and foods rich in calcium to your food. Examples of these are kale and beverages fortified with calcium. Omega 3s and 6s contain nutritional fatty acids that have been found to decrease inflammation and improve neurotransmission in the brain. Consider adding nuts, seeds, poultry, and fish to your diet to get the best of these.
Additional Practices To Keep in Mind
In addition to consuming more nutrition-based foods, the practices you keep during your recovery will also be essential in helping you get the most out of your food. For starters, remember to take your breakfast shortly when you wake up and ensure that you do not skip any of your meals. Your breakfast will keep your mood and hunger levels in check, eliminating any cravings that could result in substance use. Try to limit your caffeine intake, since tea and coffee can often cause nervousness, anxiety, irritation, and insomnia that could interfere with your recovery.
In addition to the above, drink plenty of water. Water helps carry nutrients to your cells, allowing you to improve heart circulation and normalize blood pressure to avoid spikes in your energy levels. It also helps with improved brain function, helping you maintain the proper mood levels for your recovery.
Lastly, ensure you keep up with your exercise goals. Exercise helps in weight management, balancing mood, and sleep for overall improved health. Exercise has also been shown to help addicts cope with stress and anxiety, limiting any relapse episodes. These can be as simple as taking evening walks around your neighborhood, doing yoga, hiking, weightlifting, and swimming.
If you are struggling with drug addiction, nutrition will be a crucial part of your recovery. Consider reaching out to trained professionals to help keep your dietary needs in check and access a proper nutrition plan.
COMMENTS