Better nutrition in recovery can support both your body and mind.
During WWII, the Allies had to mobilize all parts of their own countries to achieve victory over the Axis Powers. This “total war” concept used their economies and their citizens, not just their armies. If continued recovery is a long war, are you waging “total war”?
For instance, nutrition. Maybe you haven’t know how to use it yet. Let us explain a little more.
Nutrition in Recovery
Substance addiction takes a toll on your body (obviously), and that toll includes what your nutrition. First and foremost, active addiction makes you pursue the substance rather than maintaining your eating habits – you might not eat enough, you might eat only at odd hours or you might binge-eat while coming down from the high. Doing any of these for long enough will make you malnourished.
Malnutrition becomes something else you have to recover from. That means eating the right foods, and eating them in a careful way. All the diet recommendations would need another article. So we’ll stick to explaining why you should care at all about nutrition in recovery.
Nutrition Rebuilds Your Body
This might seem obvious (body + food = good). But we don’t always see the specifics. Think of all the things that a balanced diet, eaten regularly with reasonable portions, can give you: vegetables, fruits, proteins, fibers, healthy fats, and more. It can all build your body, from the atoms up. Even drinking water counteracts the dehydration that substance abuse can cause.
What can a carefully healthy diet bring your body?
- Increased energy
- Resistance to disease
- Repaired immune system
Not to mention, all this good for your body often helps your mind.
Nutrition Rebuilds Your Mind
Ever heard of the “sound body, sound mind” maxim? That’s much of how a balanced diet helps your mind during your recovery. Here’s a snapshot of what healthy food can rebuild in your mind:
- Improved memory
- Balanced emotions
- Health-based confidence
And just think of the good discipline of healthy eating. During your addiction recovery, you can use a good discipline like that for every day. Nutritional experts (like Dr. Nicole Avena, who’ll be speaking with us soon!) can tell you more about the processes. But think of your own daily life: how can you set yourself up for a stronger recovery with healthier eating?
So What Now?
See where your nutrition can improve. Being careful with what you eat and how much can benefit your ongoing recovery. And make sure to learn more with nutrition expert, Dr. Nicole Avena, sometime soon on In The Rooms. Our online peer meetings can also help you develop the right discipline for continuing recovery – why not join today, and see how we can serve you?
