Importance of Nutrition with Addiction Recovery and in General!

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, substance abuse hurts the body in
multiple ways, including physically and mentally, having a particularly negative impact
on lifestyle and nutrition. Substances not only affect a person’s outer appearance, but
also their internal systems like metabolism, organ function, and mental and emotional
well-being.
Implementing proper nutrition can help someone recovering from addiction heal faster
and more effectively. When the body is out of balance, it throws everything off and
nutrition can help bring the body back into balance to regain normal functions.

Types of Drugs and their effects on the body:

People suffering from an opiate addiction will typically experience gastrointestinal issues
and withdrawal symptoms, which include diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. All of these
purge the body of its nutrients and may result in a nutrient deficiency and an imbalance
of electrolytes.
Alcohol abuse is one of the leading causes of nutritional deficiency in the country.
People suffering from an alcohol addiction typically suffer from vitamin B6, thiamine,
and folic acid deficiencies, which can cause anemia and neurological problems. Alcohol
also affects the liver and the pancreas. The liver is responsible for removal of toxins
from the body; the pancreas regulates blood sugar and fat absorption. When these
organs are damaged, it causes an imbalance of fluids, calories, and improper toxin
removal. Complications include diabetes, high blood pressure, permanent liver damage,
seizures, severe malnutrition, and a decreased life expectancy.Stimulants like cocaine,
crack, and methamphetamines reduce appetite and can cause severe weight loss and
poor nutrition. People dealing with a stimulant addiction may be dehydrated and missing
key electrolytes. Users may also suffer from memory problems, which may become
permanent as a result of long-term drug use.

Because of the strong influence of nutrition on mood and physical health, it is vitally
important to incorporate a healthy diet within an addiction recovery program to promote
long-lasting healing.

However, it may be difficult for the person suffering from addiction to stop taking drugs
and adopt a strict diet. So, it is important to first and foremost work on eliminating drug
and alcohol use while only implementing simple, step-by-step dietary changes. Easy
changes include trying to stick to regular mealtimes, adding in more protein, complex
carbohydrates, and fiber, and starting some vitamin and mineral supplements to aid in
recovery while improving nutrition.

Drug and alcohol relapse is more likely to occur when the person has poor eating
habits. This is what makes regular meals so important. Drug addiction can cause the
person to confuse hunger for drug cravings, and they should be encouraged to try
eating when cravings become strong.
Drinking plenty of water is also an important part of nutrition in addiction recovery
because dehydration is common during the recovery process. People going off of drugs
may also experience increased appetite which may lead to overeating. It is important for
the person in recovery to eat healthy, nutritious meals and snacks, and to avoid
nutritionally-void foods like sweets and processed foods. When the person thinks of
nutritious foods, they should be encouraged to seek whole foods in their purest form,
like whole grain rice, ancient grains, nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, and animal products
like meat and eggs. Also, the importance of healthy fats should be encouraged because
they are vital for healthy brain and mood function.

Sugar regulation should be emphasized as well. It is not uncommon for people

recovering from drug and alcohol addiction to become addicted to sugar. Eating a lot of
sugar will promote blood sugar spikes and lead to crashing, which leads your body to
crave more sugar. In the brain, this translates to alcohol and can lead to more alcohol
cravings.

Some people can gain up to 20 lbs in their first month of treatment from binge eating,
emotional eating, and food addiction. By disrupting these patterns through nutrition
education and counseling, most of my patients end up staying sober and become
interested in a healthy lifestyle, including nutrition and exercise.”

Other points:

The importance of seeking a nutritionist during recovery! Look for centers that have one
on staff….It is surprising that proper nutrition doesn’t seem to be emphasized as much
in recovery centers...A person consumed by addiction is less likely to eat healthfully.

The importance of asking your clients about their diets and physical health, it is a critical
aspect of their wholeness.