Importance Of Healthy Eating in Treatment For Addiction
Prior to your treatment for addiction you may have been of the mind set that fast food tasted “amazing” and was good enough to sustain you at a lower cost, which also meant that you had more money to spend on your addiction. However now that you are on the road to recovery, you have probably realized exactly how much physical damage you did to your body, not just through your addiction but also through the terrible food you consumed. Chances are your addiction ensured that the majority of your income went into feeding your dependence instead of your body. Now that you’re recovering you’re also realizing that you’re more prone to sickness as your body’s immune system has been compromised by your substance abuse.
A healthy, well balanced diet will see to all your body’s nutritional needs ensuring that you continue on the road to a complete recovery. Eating healthy well balanced meals everyday will do a lot to help you improve your body, repair organ tissue and strengthen your immune system at the same time. Often rehab centers will provide you with a nutritionist to ensure that you are eating correctly. But if you are not 100% certain of what to do now that you are out of rehab, speak to your sponsor, counselor or even a doctor to find someone who will help you manage your diet.
To help you get on the right track to healthy eating here are a few simple things to remember:
Avoid caffeine as this is a stimulant.
Avoid fast foods or anything too sugary.
Eat food that is full of antioxidants. Foods that are rich in antioxidants include:
- Prunes
- Raspberries and Blueberries
- Cranberries and Strawberries
- Walnuts
- Broccoli
- Peppers
- Carrots
Protein is a necessity for building a healthy body. Foods that are protein rich include:
- Fish
- Poultry
- Beans
- Cheese
- Yogurt
- Even protein supplements may help you (but the more natural your intake, the healthier you will be)
Fiber is your friend – This will help your digestive system get back on track. Foods rich in fiber include:
- Brown rice
- Artichokes
- Peas
- Whole grains
Healthy snacks are okay. They regulate your system and ensure that you don’t deprive your body of valuable nutrients between meals (and they keep you away from fast foods or sugary treats)
Eating healthy, well balanced meals also affects your mood. The happier you are the less likely you are to take a slip down memory lane and indulge in your previous “drug” of choice for one more taste. The risk of relapse is extremely high for people who do not ensure that their mental health is improving along with their physical health. Healthy foods are a natural source of endorphins and provide you with a natural high without any negative side effects. As a user, your moods were often volatile and aggressive, especially if you went into withdrawal. Now that you are in recovery you need to stabilize your moods and a healthy diet is one way to achieve just that.