Author: James Anderson

Nutrition Guide For Addiction Recovery

You’ll also get access to anti-craving medications, expert medical advice, handy digital tools, and more—all through an app on your phone. Although staying hydrated in recovery is important, you should ask your doctor how much water is safe for you to drink. Certain health problems like heart disease can impact how much water you can safely drink.

This can make it hard to stay away from alcohol while you’re trying to get better. You may have a strong urge to eat sweets because they set off dopamine, the same chemical messenger triggered by some drugs. Once addiction has forced changes in the brain, however, it damages neuroplasticity and makes it much harder to adapt to sobriety. Additionally, the adaptations that the brain develops disrupt crucial neuropathways, decreasing neurotransmitters and their ability to move normally through the brain. Take our short alcohol quiz to learn where you fall on the drinking spectrum and if you might benefit from quitting or cutting back on alcohol.

Add Bright Fruits and Veggies as Part of Your Sobriety Diet

Withdrawal is also a time when your body is hyperactive and sensitive to stimulation, so avoiding foods or beverages with caffeine is a good idea. As with any supplement regimen, it is essential to consult with a healthcare provider to ensure these are appropriate and safe for your personal health circumstances. It is also important to remember that supplementation should support, not replace, a balanced diet. If obesity develops, it increases the risk of many different diseases. Malnutrition can be even worse, suppressing your immune system and leaving you unable to respond to even minor health problems.

Complex carbohydrates stabilize blood sugar levels and provide vitamins, minerals and fibers. These foods take longer to digest, which means they provide energy for a long period of time. Detox can be an uncomfortable process for individuals experiencing alcohol addiction. The goal of alcohol detox is to rid the substance from the body.

As you’ve likely noticed, alcohol can provide temporary feelings of happiness and relaxation. When you quit drinking, your body often looks for a replacement. Studies show that sugar consumption also triggers euphoric feelings, which may help fill that gap. At The Recovery Village Columbus, we care about helping you feel your best during recovery, ultimately succeeding in your recovery journey. Contact a Recovery Advocate today to learn how we can help you achieve lasting freedom from alcohol addiction. Foods high in sodium should also be avoided, as they can increase your blood pressure and provide adverse heart effects while your body goes through withdrawal.

Foods to Avoid on an Alcohol Detox Diet

Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, including citrus fruits, strawberries, bell peppers, tomatoes, and cruciferous vegetables, and consider taking a vitamin C supplement. Dual diagnosis treatment programs for substance abuse and eating disorders focus on addressing both conditions and their common roots, rather than trying to treat one after the other. These programs are unique to the individual and the complex interplay between the conditions but typically involve individual and group therapy designed to heal the patient from both sides. Eating disorders and substance use disorders share multiple similarities in displayed behavior. The escalation of substance abuse comes with increasingly severe cravings and the inability to control consumption despite building negative consequences. In the same manner, those who have bulimia and binge eating disorders experience extreme cravings for food and feel a loss of control when over-consuming.

FHE is dedicated to making a difference for those seeking a healthier, happier way of life, regardless of circumstance. With a focus on eating well in recovery and the right sober diet, it’s possible to improve recovery efforts by working to undo the damage drugs and alcohol can do to the body. A healthy diet is important for everything from maintaining a normal weight to preventing elevated risks of things like stroke and heart disease. Significant scientific research goes into determining the effects of different foods on the human body, with general conclusions pointing to natural whole foods as the best option. For those hoping to maintain health in sobriety, particularly after months or years of abusive behavior, eating right is an essential part of the equation.

1. B vitamins such as thiamine (vitamin B1) and folate (vitamin B9) are critical for brain function and energy production, which can be negatively impacted by chronic alcohol consumption.
2. While more research is needed to see if it can also aid those with cancer, some studies have noted its potential in this area.
3. Too little could eventually cause serious learning and memory problems, a condition called Wernicke-Korsakoff’s syndrome.
4. Alcohol can not only alter your brain chemistry, but it can negatively affect your nutrition as well.
5. Inflammation can be especially impactful in the intestines, as the harmful components of alcohol can leak from the organ, which becomes weaker as drinking continues.

Lean protein may be a better choice than sources high in fat—so try fish, poultry, low-fat dairy products, or lean cuts of beef. A deficiency of vitamin B1 (thiamine) can be especially harmful, leading to irreversible brain damage if not addressed. When you call our team, you will speak to a Recovery Advocate who will answer any questions and perform a pre-assessment to determine your eligibility for treatment.

Improve Your Recovery Journey Today

However, carbohydrates are essential for the function of the central nervous system and brain. They are so important that the Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggests 45% to 65% of daily calories should come from carbs. Your body is able to synthesize some of the amino acids on its own, but there are several you can only absorb from food. The body needs varied sources of protein for optimal function. A bonus is that many of these foods are an excellent source of thiamine and zinc, two nutrients that recovering alcoholics often need the most.

They can help the body repair damage caused by alcohol abuse by providing antioxidants, which fight against harmful free radicals produced during excessive alcohol consumption. They can also provide several important nutrients often deficient in those with alcohol addiction. As you learn to embrace sobriety, a healthy diet should be a priority in your life. When planning your diet both in rehabilitation as well as when you are living independently, keep these tips for a sober diet in mind.