Eating a balanced diet is important in maintaining your physical and mental health. While adopting healthy eating habits is crucial to your overall well-being, it is an absolute must if you are in recovery from substance abuse. Drugs and alcohol ravage your body, and substances deplete the essential nutrients it needs to properly function. Establishing proper nutrition for recovery will help your body and brain heal, and it also helps reduce cravings.
This article will explore the importance of nutrition for recovery and why proper diet is key to long-term recovery. You will also learn about what foods to eat during alcohol detox and what foods you need to avoid in recovery. If you need professional rehab services, call Find Luxury Rehabs toll-free today. Our dedicated and experienced staff will help you find the right programs and services that meet your unique needs. Call Find Luxury Rehabs today and find peace and happiness in sobriety with luxury drug and alcohol rehab services near you.
What is the Importance of Diet in Alcohol Recovery?
The role of nutrition in recovery is a major one. According to experts at the University of Utah, substances significantly impact metabolism and organ functioning, and they can inhibit or prevent the body from absorbing and digesting nutrients. Poor nutrition leads to significant vitamin deficiencies, malnourishment, and overall poor health. Making the conscious effort to eat a healthy and balanced diet will help repair and restore your body and brain. Not only will a proper diet help optimize your physical and mental health, but having excellent nutrition in recovery will boost your immune system and help you feel better which reduces the risk of relapse.
What Foods Should You Be Eating For Optimal Nutrition for Recovery?
When considering a proper recovery diet, it is important to focus on eating nutrient-dense foods. These foods are low in calories but are high in nutritional content. Nutrient-dense foods are advantageous in the fact that are minimally processed and are low in artificial sweeteners and sugars. Most importantly, nutrient-rich foods help regulate mood swings, keep blood sugar levels in check, and decrease the onset of depression and anxiety which can lead you back to substance use.
When finding the perfect diet for your needs, there will no doubt be some trial-and-error in finding the right balance of foods that work for you. The following are excellent food choices that can provide the basis for a balanced diet in recovery:
- Seafood such as salmon and mackerel are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which help regulate mood and decrease anxiety.
- Lean meats such as turkey and chicken contain the amino acid tyrosine, which aids in the production of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, which helps enhance mood.
- Potatoes (and especially sweet potatoes) are high in fiber and complex carbohydrates. These nutrients help blood glucose levels steady, and help reduce cravings for drugs and alcohol.
- Bananas are rich in potassium, vitamins B6 and C, as well as magnesium. These nutrients combat fatigue and muscle cramping. Other produce, such as avocados and oranges, are high in tryptophan, which aids in restful sleep.
- Tofu is an excellent protein source that is easily absorbed and is easy on the liver, which may be damaged as a result of excessive alcohol intake.
What Should You Avoid in Recovery?
When you are in recovery, there are some foods that you need to avoid at all costs. First on the list are processed foods like fast foods. Processed foods contain no enzymes and are difficult for the body to process. These foods also cause adverse changes in digestion, allowing oversized molecules to enter the liver. You also want to limit or avoid caffeine, which stimulates the adrenal glands and leads to exhaustion, fatigue, and compromises the immune system. Additionally, you want to avoid foods that are made with white flour and sugar because neither provides any nutritional value. You also want to limit or avoid the fats that are found in margarine and shortening and stick to the fats found in olive oils and coconut oils.
Are You Looking For a Fresh Start?
Have you committed to getting clean and sober for good? If you have, you need to find a treatment facility with the right combination of programs, services, and support that will help you find long-term recovery. Find Luxury Rehabs can assist you with the best type of drug rehab program that fits your specific needs and goals. We work with a wide variety of premier treatment facilities that feature evidence-based programs that are proven to work, and the compassionate, expert support you need to transform your life.
Call Find Luxury Rehabs toll-free today and begin your journey toward lifelong sobriety.
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