What is nutritional therapy, and how does it benefit addiction recovery? When you check into a rehabilitation facility for treatment, you may receive one or more forms of counseling and therapy. These various therapy techniques can teach you the coping strategies and lifestyle skills you need to maintain sobriety. Nutrition is one component of overall wellness.
What Is Nutritional Therapy in Addiction Treatment?
You may be aware of the beneficial health effects of certain foods. Of course, there are many TV shows where a dietician or nutritionist makes mention of healthy, wholesome foods. Nutritional therapy is an evidence-driven approach to improving health through dietary changes and also lifestyle tweaks. It involves the following:
- Avoiding anti-nutrients, including processed foods that contribute to obesity, and a wide range of diseases
- Eating raw vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts, seeds, and whole grains
- Eating a variety of whole foods without as much attention to calories, carbohydrates, and fats
Judge the therapeutic value of the whole food diet by eating a majority of calories from foods that are the most nutritionally dense (micronutrients per calorie), and adjust the macronutrients according to individual caloric needs. For instance, if a person is trying to reverse a disease process, the focus of the diet should be mostly raw fruits and vegetables, eliminating animal products completely. A diet to maintain health can be more flexible and include some grains and animal products.
Addiction Treatment and Nutrition
When you are in an addiction treatment program, your therapist will teach you how to manage the substance dependencies that harm your health. Through therapy, you will come to understand the root causes of your addiction and how you can resist turning to substances that offer you a temporary high. You may also learn about the dietary effects of foods on your healing process and overall well-being. In fact, when your recovery plan includes nutrition therapy, you will be put on a targeted diet that complements the treatment.
Health Problems Nutrition Therapy Solves
What is nutritional therapy mainly used for? A nutritional therapist will plan a diet to support just about any addiction treatment or weight management goal. Changes in weight can occur for a variety of reasons. For example, some substance addictions can lead to rapid weight loss and malnutrition. On the other hand, a mental health disorder can lead to stress eating and weight gain. Diet-based therapies can address both issues. After detoxification, your body may feel tired and weak. Specially prepared meals help your body recover and also lessen the uncomfortable symptoms of detoxification.
Nutrition-Related Health Concerns
Your mental health disorder or dependency may have discouraged you from eating well, sleeping adequately, and getting regular exercise. Nutritional therapy, in combination with other therapies, puts you on the path to healthy living. Furthermore, some specific health concerns that dietary therapy addresses include:
- Blood sugar imbalances
- Digestive problems
- Weight gain or loss
- Anxiety, fatigue, and poor concentration
- High cholesterol and high blood pressure
- Immune conditions
- Hormonal imbalances
- Skin conditions
Now that you have a good idea about what nutritional therapy is, you should also know that only a few rehab centers offer this service. Crestview Recovery is among the few delivering a full continuum of care to promote effective and sustained healing.
Dietary Support at Crestview Recovery
Professionals at Crestview Recovery tailor treatment programs to individual cases. You receive nutritional support from the first day of your inpatient program, along with a combination of therapies, including:
- Art therapy
- Mindfulness meditation therapy
- Yoga therapy
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Recreational therapy
Our therapists assess your current health status and medical history before recommending a personalized diet plan. Finally, nourish your body with natural, unprocessed foods that strengthen your body. Energize your mind and assure the success of your treatment program. Call Crestview Recovery at 866.262.0531 today.
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.
