Call Us on WhatsApp (English) +66 97 943 6477 ติดต่อสอบถาม ภาษาไทย : 098 081 9628
Call Us on WhatsApp (English) +66 97 943 6477 ติดต่อสอบถาม ภาษาไทย : 098 081 9628
Home » Why Is Nutrition Important During Recovery?
It is important for all people, young and old, to practice healthy eating habits. However, for people recovering from a drug or alcohol addiction, this is especially important.
According to SAMSHA, nearly 42 % of people who have a mental health disorder are also obese. Poor nutrition can lead to a broad range of health complications which could encourage substance use or discouraged recovery. Thus, it is important for anyone in rehab to consider the importance of nutrition during recovery.
An addiction can cause all sorts of health complications that can be both short and long term, if not permanent. Some of these include:
It should be noted that there are a number of other side effects to the above addictions, but for the purpose of this article, we have discussed only the nutritional-related effects.
Nutrition for addiction treatment is important because substances, including alcohol, prescription medications, meth, and other drugs can damage or shut down the digestive process. This alone could prevent the brain from being nourished; thereby, working properly. When a person practices healthy nutrition during recovery, they may experience less withdrawal symptoms and may increase their chances of recovery.
People who suffer from addiction are typically deficient in essential minerals, vitamins, micro and macro nutrients; all of which are essential for proper functioning. The reason malnutrition is so common in people who are addicted to drugs or alcohol is because the body’s cells cannot produce proteins that are needed to absorb the nutrients.
In addition to malnutrition, drug and alcohol abuse over a long period of time can damage the intestinal lining. This can result in the inability to absorb vitamin B 12. When this happens, the red blood cell count can be diminished as can DNA and RNA. Vitamin B12 is also needed to maintain the body’s nerve cells.
When essential nutrients are not present in the body, the person may experience anxiety, low energy, mood swings, and depression. For this reason, nutrition during recovery is essential for the healing process. Without practising healthy eating, it is possible for cravings, negative thought patterns, and a relapse to occur.
When you’re recovering from an addiction, you will find that eating healthy offers many different benefits, such as:
There are many other benefits of eating right during addiction recovery. Rest assured, regardless of your dietary preferences or whether or not you know anything about nutrition, you can learn how to eat the right foods that support your recovery now and in the future.
At Siam Rehab, we encourage healthy nutrition for addiction treatment. Our patients will learn about proper nutrition during recovery, learn what foods to avoid, and how to practice healthy eating in daily life. This guidance combined with our many other services, like individual counselling, art therapy, and Muay Thai, can provide you with the necessary tools to remain sober.
If you are interested in knowing more about our comprehensive rehab programmes or have questions about nutrition during recovery, please give us a call at your earliest convenience.
Siam Rehab is a recovery community, unlike anything available elsewhere in the world. Set on a remote 30 acre tropical jungle property we offer your best chance at lasting recovery from substance abuse and co-occurring disorders.