Healthy eating is far more important for drug rehab than many addicts realize. Addiction is a disease, and many drugs cause severe physical harm to habitual users. Doctors can address these problems with medication, but proper nutrition is a far healthier and more sustainable long-term drug rehab strategy. Here are a few of the ways good nutrition can help addicts recover and avoid drug cravings.
Avoiding Food-Related Addictions
When addicts remove drugs from their lives, they sometimes fall into other addictive behavior patterns. Poor nutritional habits are often to blame, and many people who complete drug rehab develop new addictions to sugar, caffeine, or other unhealthy foods and food-related chemicals.
To avoid these new addictions, addicts need to eat diets rich in fiber, protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals – the things that the human body actually needs. Whole grains, fresh produce, lean meats, and other foods that contain these nutrients are satisfying and non-habit-forming, as well.
Treating the Physical Symptoms of Drug Abuse
Heroin, meth, cocaine, and other narcotics cause severe physical harm to many addicts. While medical attention is certainly necessary for these drug rehab patients, good nutrition can also help them repair their broken bodies.
For example, opiates can damage the gastrointestinal system and cause constant nausea and vomiting. Foods rich in potassium and other electrolytes can help addicts restore the intestinal tracts. Also, metabolizing alcohol and other drugs frequently causes severe harm to addicts’ livers. A diet with plenty of sulfur, soluble fiber, and cruciferous vegetables can help to promote liver health.
Staying in Good Spirits
Hypoglycemia can cause irritability, physical exhaustion, and even depression. These are terrible states for addicts trying to avoid stress-induced cravings and relapse. Even non-addicts have been known to experience “rushes” and “crashes” when they skip meals or eat too many sweets.
To prevent wild fluctuations in their blood sugar levels, addicts need to moderate – or even eliminate – their intake of refined sugars. They should instead focus on getting energy from whole grains, starchy vegetables, and other foods rich in complex carbohydrates. Click here for more information on a life changing drug rehab center.