No man is an island. This truth undeniably applies to a person’s journey towards sobriety. Patients need the encouragement and support of others – family, friends, and medical practitioners – to successfully recover from a life of alcoholism and drug addiction. The same support is being offered at sober living homes. These facilities aid the recovering patients in establishing a healthy and responsible lifestyle, which include eating the right kinds of food that will help accelerate the recovery. Experts say that the foods we eat affect our mental and emotional state. Intake of certain food nutrients may help alleviate symptoms and augment the effectiveness of medications. Nutrition has a big impact on cravings for drugs and alcohol. Here are some tips in making good food choices in order to avoid relapse and hasten a patient’s recovery:
Avoid sweets and refined food
Fluctuating sugar levels in the blood increase the cravings for alcohol. Alcohol is a simple sugar that is easily absorbed by the body. It contains empty calories that convert to fat, which makes a person feel full even without intake of solid food. This is the reason why many recovering alcoholics have a craving for sweets. Refined or processed foods are jammed with sugar, sodium, trans fats, and other chemicals that would retard the process of recovery. Some medical studies have also linked the intake of refined sugar to depression that leads to alcohol and drug abuse.
Eat fiber-laden foods
Fruits and vegetables are top on the list. These fiber-laden foods help in the proper absorption of nutrients. Fiber helps restore the digestive tract that is normally damaged by long-term drug or alcohol abuse. Foods high in fiber are beans, whole grains, broccoli, and barley to name a few.
Eat foods rich in protein and Omega 3s
Protein is essential in producing the chemicals needed by the brain to give the person a general state of well-being. It also aids in regenerating tissues damaged due to alcohol and substance abuse. Some foods rich in protein are lean meats, seafood, poultry, seeds, nuts, and beans. To obtain Omega 3s, fish is a good source. Depression rates are much higher in countries where fish consumption is low. According to some studies, people who rarely eat fish have more than twice the risk of having depression compared to those who eat fish on a regular basis.
Take vitamin and mineral supplements
It’s hard to get all the vitamins and minerals needed by your recovering body from merely eating healthy meals. Taking a good quality vitamin and mineral supplement will give a boost. It will aid in restoring the levels of these nutrients in the body. Replenish your body by adding more vitamin C and B-complex together with certain minerals like calcium, potassium, and magnesium.
Include healthy fats to your diet
Fats are essential in maintaining the health of the cell membranes, which is vital to a person’s recovery. It includes olive oil, nuts, seeds, and avocados.
Nutrition is a vital aspect in attaining sobriety. Once you start and maintain these nutritional boosts, you will surely feel better, more confident, and optimistic about your healing. It is best to seek advice from your doctor before taking any kind of supplements and practicing the aforementioned information.