Role of Nutrition in Addiction Recovery

A good nutrition is considered critical in the recovery process and is often instrumental in securing good mental health and physical well-being in an addict. In the face of conditions like addiction and substance abuse, the role of a healthy diet may seem insignificant. But proper nutrition and hydration have proven to be the key to efficient healing and successfully practiced in many-a- treatment because they help restore physical and mental health and therefore enhance the chance of faster recovery.

Effects of Malnutrition

Malnutrition combined with alcohol abuse may prove to be taxing on the body and may cause severe physical and mental stress. Malnutrition can sometimes result in the death of an addict too. People abusing drugs and alcohol often have a suppressed appetite and will ignore eating while under the influence.

Most addicts on the contrary, will be left with no money for healthy meals because they spend huge amounts of money on alcohol and drugs. In either case, it creates mal-nutrition among the abusers. Alcohol abuse can significantly affect the functionality of Pancreas, an organ which is vital for digestion of lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, and hormones that balance blood sugar levels. Without the proper nutrition, this organ cannot function as intended. This can lead to a chronic condition among the addicts, called alcohol-induced pancreatitis. This is a condition that has proven fatal to many Addicts.

Binge eating is another habit that causes imbalance in nutrition. Some people suffering from addiction experience severe hunger pangs once they get off the alcohol or drug influence. They end up binge eating, which disrupts the body’s ability to digest and absorb nutrients from the food, as the stomach lining has already been disturbed by irregular eating habits.

Drug/alcohol abusers are used to getting high and neglect proper intake of food. Malnutrition also causes vitamin deficiencies among the addicts. For example, they do not consume daily recommended dose of thiamine which results in a brain condition known as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, that leads to permanent memory loss, difficulty creating new memories and psychosis is an irreversible disease.

Role of Balanced Diet

A balanced diet can work wonders in addiction recovery. The addicts start to feel the difference with a proper nutritional diet during the treatment. They add feel the difference in their moods, experience increased energy, reduced risk of disease, strong memory as they heal inside out. Nutrition isn’t about. achieving goals, it is a process of finding balance of mind, body and spirit. Nutrition therapy for substance abuse is a complex process due to the risks including poor support, co-occurring mental health ailments and poverty are a common place among addicts.

Personalized nutrition plans and comprehensive nutrition counseling programs provided to the substance abusers have been found to significantly improve sobriety success rates. It is important to provide a person of substance abuse, a properly balanced, calorically appropriate meals in order to prevent symptoms of depression, anxiety and low-energy in them. These symptoms are triggers and can induce relapse in the abuser. A diet high in complex carbohydrates, moderate in protein, and low in fat and sugar helps in sustaining recovery.

Studies have proven that nutrition helps in a speedy recovery by helping and addict cope with compulsive cravings and causing positive energy in him/her. Proper nutrition also helps in preventing relapse and many chronic diseases that result from alcohol/substance abuse.