Nutrition and Addiction Recovery
Alcohol and drug use often lead to nutritional deficiencies. Some substances cause you to feel hungry more often, causing you to overeat, while some stifle your appetite, causing you to eat too little. Addiction also causes you to care more about when you can get your next high rather than properly taking care of your body by eating right. This can cause many problems including: muscle loss, organ difficulties, hemorrhoids, heart issues, etc.
There is a false idea that when you are recovering from an addiction you should splurge on sweets and junk to reward yourself or to replace your addiction. This is simply not true. Proper nutrition is essential in addiction recovery, and if you fail to gain the nutrition you need, you will make your recovery much more difficult. It is important that you give your body the nutrients it needs in order to help you heal and increase your overall health and well-being.
Here at Renaissance Ranch, we have a full time chef on staff to help prepare nutritious meals for optimum recovery. We prepare 3 healthy meals per day for our residents as part of our residential treatment program.
Nutrition and Healing
Proper nutrition helps your body heal by giving it energy, and helping it to repair damage and strengthen the immune system. Eating a diet high in protein and carbohydrates can also help reduce cravings. Foods associated with healing are: proteins-rich foods such as lean meats, nuts, and tofu; produce; healthy fats; fiber-rich foods such as beans and whole grains; and water.
Nutrition and Mood
Food also has a profound effect on mood. Your diet can alter brain structure and influence behavior. For example, certain foods increase neurotransmitter production such as serotonin, making you feel good. As you seek recovery, incorporate mood-enhancing food into your diet. A few examples of these foods are: bananas, chicken, turkey, dark chocolate, berries, dark leafy vegetables, avocados, fish, coconut, and greek yogurt.