The process of addiction recovery is undoubtedly quite hard on the body. Luckily, there’s plenty you can do in terms of your diet to make the process as smooth as possible. Keep our simple diet advice in mind to set yourself up for success.
Help Your Body Absorb Nutrients Better During Alcohol Recovery
It’s incredibly common for those struggling with alcohol dependency to develop a range of vitamin deficiencies, especially vitamin B6, vitamin B1, and folic acid. Healthy fats such as salmon, tuna, milk, eggs, avocados, and chickpeas will help you replenish these nutrients. Leafy greens, bananas, and carrots are excellent plant sources of vitamin B6 and folic acid. You can get your vitamin B1 needs to be met by eating pork, nuts, tofu, and brown rice.
Improve Digestion After Opiate Addiction
Opiates, such as morphine and heroin, are notorious for wreaking havoc on the digestive system. Constipation is often a part of the early stages of recovery, and it can be incredibly challenging to deal with on top of all the other withdrawal symptoms. The best natural way to combat these painful digestion problems is by adding high-fiber foods to your diet. Beans, chickpeas, oats, and fresh fruit are all excellent and healthy sources of fiber. On top of that, superfoods such as chia seeds are also a fantastic addition, as they pack quite a punch in terms of fiber content!
Quitting Stimulants and Getting Your Appetite Back
Perhaps the most well-known effect of stimulants is that they suppress the appetite. As a result, many people dealing with stimulant addiction are deficient in a range of vitamins. Even worse, long-term stimulant use can cause memory problems. Combat the harmful effect stimulants have on the brain by taking omega 3-6-9 supplements daily, on top of a healthy and consistent diet that includes all major food groups.
Indulge in the Occasional Treat
Now, we’ll be the first to profess the value of a healthy, balanced diet — but this doesn’t mean that you need to forgo all your favorite treats. All kinds of food can be a part of a healthy diet as long as you eat it in moderation, so feel free to indulge now and then. A perfectionist mindset isn’t helpful for overcoming addiction or improving your diet, so don’t be too strict with what you can and cannot eat.
Don’t Forget to Hydrate!
While water isn’t exactly a nutrient, we can’t finish this article without stressing just how essential it is to overcoming addiction. People who have struggled with addiction are notorious for being very dehydrated, as many substances, especially alcohol, can suppress natural thirst signals. Hydration is essential if you’ve been experiencing withdrawal symptoms such as fever, sweat, or vomiting. We suggest you gradually increase the amount of water you drink to improve your hydration levels. If you struggle to drink as much water as you need, try to ease into it by using electrolyte tablets or drinking fresh juices.
Ready to Make a Change?
Here at Baystate Recovery Center, we take pride in providing compassionate and effective care tailored to the unique needs of everyone who goes through our doors. Please get in touch to discuss your treatment options.
Baystate Recovery Center, a clinically Infused 12-Step Treatment Center for Drug and Alcohol Addiction, was founded by two partners in addiction treatment services, John Checchi and Michael Wilson.
