How a Healthy Diet Can Help With the Addiction Recovery Process

Maintaining sobriety can be challenging. Studies have shown, however, that there is a definite link between nutrition and addiction recovery. The wrong diet can affect your mental health in very negative ways. Poor nutrition can make recovery a much harder process. Conversely, eating the right foods can help your body heal itself more efficiently. Here are some important ways in which improving your diet can help you maintain sobriety and can help you feel healthier throughout your recovery process.

Benefits of Good Nutrition for Sobriety

Choosing the right foods can offer added support and emotional stability for you during your addiction recovery process. Some of the most important benefits of proper nutrition include the following:

• Faster healing and cell regeneration: The right nutrients can increase your body’s own natural ability to heal itself. Antioxidants, vitamins and minerals are essential in this process.
• Improved mental focus and productivity: Eating nutritious and healthy foods can help your brain function more effectively, which can have an impact on everything you do.
• More restful sleep: Lack of sleep has been linked to a wide range of health issues. Eating healthy foods and exercising is often the key to improving your sleep habits for more energy and improved overall health.
• Stronger bones: Calcium and other minerals can provide the power needed to keep your bones and teeth stronger for greater mobility.
• Increased energy to take on life’s challenges: The calories available in healthy foods can provide dependable energy for working, playing and living your life without the use of drugs and alcohol.
• Better heart health: The right vitamins, minerals and nutrients can keep your heart functioning properly and can reduce your chance of developing heart disease.
• Improved digestive function: The use of certain medications can have a serious and persistent effect on your digestive system. Eating healthier can help you avoid these issues while pursuing sobriety.

Combating the Effects of Long-term Addictions

Malnutrition is a common issue among those recovering from substance abuse and addiction. This occurs because of improper diet and general deterioration of the body. Drug and alcohol abuse can often cause damage to the digestive system, including the linings of the intestines. This makes it much more difficult to absorb many of the nutrients and vitamins necessary for good health. Many recovering addicts have deficiencies in one or more of the following essential nutrients:

• Magnesium
• Zinc
• Vitamin B12
• Calcium
• Folate

Choosing a diet that has plenty of these vitamins and minerals and that offers a good and healthy balance of proteins and carbs will often help you feel better during your recovery process. Sticking to a healthy and balanced diet will also provide you with the energy and mental clarity needed to recover from addiction more successfully.

Nutrition and Addiction Recovery With Sober Living America

At Sober Living America, we offer addiction recovery services that can help our clients get back on the right track. We offer housing, career development and transportation services as well as addiction recovery options in a faith-based and supportive environment. 

To learn more about how nutrition plays a role in addiction recovery or to touch base with Sober Living America, call us today at 1-877-430-0086. We are here to help you now and throughout your recovery process.