Drug and alcohol addiction can deplete your body of vital nutrients. We know that eating fresh, healthy, nutritious food is an important part of a holistic addiction treatment environment. We use nutrition therapy to help alleviate nutritional deficiencies and to promote healthy lifestyle habits. Many people who attend one of our addiction treatment programs haven’t bought groceries in months or years. Relearning to eat healthy, nutrient-dense foods is an important part of addiction recovery. Increased levels of dopamine, which often happens during active addiction can cause people to lose their appetites.
Additionally, certain medications for SUD can result in the deficiency of certain nutrients like magnesium. During addiction therapy services, you should concentrate on eating a healthy diet in order to replenish your organs and vital systems.
Healthy Foods and Recovery
Choose a diverse selection of food for a well-balanced diet. Try to vary what you eat and include fruits, vegetables, proteins, grains, and dairy. If you have food allergies, dietary restrictions, or chronic diseases that impact your diet, you may want to consult with a nutritionist on the best mix of foods for you.
Meal Plans
Planning meals makes it easier to stick to a healthy diet. By developing daily meal plans, you can create a reusable shopping list of your favorite nutritious foods. When you eat a healthy diet, you slowly began to develop a stronger body and a clearer mind. This can help you get through withdrawals and cravings and focus on getting well.
Health and Wellness Tips
Pack your diet full of whole foods and avoid processed foods as much as possible. Here are the types of foods to pack into every meal:
- Protein
- Whole grains
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Limited dairy
Whenever possible, focus on foods sold in their original form without artificial processing or modification. Quinoa and oats are great examples of ancient grades that enhance your diet. Even among top food choices, some help you more than others. Learn which foods can boost your brain health and elevate your mood. Additionally, some foods can alleviate the symptoms of withdrawal and help you recover faster.
Superfoods
Superfoods offer maximum nutritional benefits with minimal calories. Giving your body the nutrients it needs is a great way to stay healthy. Self-medicate the right way with smart food choices.
Tyrosine
Tyrosine is an amino acid that helps your body produce more dopamine. Early in your recovery, your body contains low levels of this neurotransmitter. Normal levels of dopamine boost mood and energy, whereas lower levels commonly result in apathy and depression.
Nutrition tips: Eat tyrosine-rich foods such as lamb, whole grains, cheese, and bananas to boost natural levels of dopamine.
L-glutamine
Another amino acid, L-glutamine, strengthens your immune system and contains antioxidants. L-glutamine lowers sugar cravings, which often accompany early recovery. Consuming too much sugar increases your risk of depression, anxiety, and inflammatory conditions. Avoiding sugar can help you avoid mood swings during recovery and beyond.
Nutrition tips: Dark, leafy greens such as parsley and spinach are loaded with L-glutamine. Other sources include carrots, beets, brussels sprouts, papayas, and meats like fish, chicken, and beef.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants boost your immune system following the rigors of detox and withdrawal. After your body rids itself of the toxins in drugs and alcohol, you have to rebuild it with foods high in antioxidants.
Nutrition tips: Strawberries, blueberries, artichokes, onions, and pecans are all high in antioxidants. Many of these items pair well with most salad ingredients. So, they are easy to incorporate into your diet.
GABA
The neurotransmitter GABA brings on feelings of relaxation. Anxiety and restlessness often plague clients in early recovery. GABA-rich foods can calm the body and help you sleep better.
Nutrition tips: To ease the discomforts of withdrawal, choose foods such as cherry tomatoes and shrimp.
Tryptophan
Those seeking health and wellness tips should try to incorporate foods rich in tryptophan to lift serotonin levels. Serotonin induces feelings of contentment. Tryptophan is a precursor to serotonin, and you can find it in many common foods, such as turkey, cheese, pork, tuna fish, and lentils.
Our addiction therapy services include holistic approaches to recovery. In addition to proper nutrition, we recommend mindfulness meditation therapy to help you examine your thoughts and feelings objectively.
Good Nutrition Promotes Healing
At Crestview Recovery in Oregon, our life skills rehab teaches you proper nutrition and the connection between healthy foods and recovery. Learn how to rebuild your body from the inside out with the right food choices.
Substance Use Treatment in Oregon
There is a strong connection between healthy foods and recovery. These health and wellness tips can help you increase your immunity and rebuild your body following detox and recovery. Contact us at 866.262.0531 to find out about our men’s and women’s rehab programs and other programs, and begin your recovery 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.
