Long-standing addiction can exercise numerous negative influences on the dependent soul’s body. One significant but sometimes not readily observed concern said issues precipitate is poor diet and subsequent nutritional problems. Fortunately, however, diet and nutrition can also prove paramount to one’s recovery.
Addiction’s Adverse Impact On Nutrition
Researchers and healthcare providers have concluded that prolonged substance abuse often yields negative influences on the user’s nutritional and physical health including:
Poor Dietary Practices
Drug users often engage in questionable dietary practices. Said individuals are not focused on making wise choices and often eat quick and unhealthy edibles like fast foods or simple to prepare items such as canned, frozen, and heavily processed products.
Digestive Tract Disorders
In many instances, continued chemical dependency results in digestive system damage. These issues often render the struggling subject’s gastrointestinal organs incapable of completing the digestive process. Over the long haul, said occurrences could lead to unpleasant and sometimes serious physical manifestations like:
- Abdominal cramping
- Gas
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Heartburn
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
A more significant problem is absorption difficulty. Advanced digestive tract ailments could inhibit the body’s capacity to absorb important nutrients. This might result in the exacerbation of pre-existing medical conditions and bring forth those brought on by nutritional deficiencies.
Appetite Loss
Appetite loss is a side effect caused by the ingestion of many illicit substances. Naturally, when individuals are not hungry, they will consume less. A decreased intake of calories might bring about weight loss and various vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
Organ Damage
Excessive use of many drugs can significantly damage the abuser’s digestive tract components. For example, alcohol dependency alone is capable of causing severe damage to the stomach and intestinal lining and damaging liver tissue to irreversible stages.
Diet’s Role In The Recovery Process
Nutritionists and medical professionals maintain that diet possesses the ability to yield several positive outcomes for those going through the recovery process including:
Replenish Missing Or Lacking Nutrients
The body requires many vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients to properly function. The consumption of a balanced diet ensures the healing soul receives adequate quantities of chemicals like:
- Vitamins A, the B complex, C, and D
- Phosphorus
- Iron
- Calcium
- Potassium
- Magnesium
Eating well will also increase a recovering dependent’s intake of other important minerals such as copper, zinc, selenium, iodine, and chromium.
A Strengthened Immune System
An improving individual’s body was likely put through a great deal of abuse. Said concerns could weaken their immune system and heighten their risk of various minor and potentially serious illnesses. Nutritious foods strengthen the immune response and decrease their chances of contracting such maladies.
Improved Mental Clarity
Cognitive functions like focus and memory are crucial for recovering addicts. Moreover, optimal mental health is vital to achieving and maintaining sobriety. Many edibles possessing potent nutritional values to improve focus and memory, in addition to reducing one’s risk of experiencing potential mental and sobriety-threatening pitfalls like anxiety disorders and depression.
Proper Hydration
Many nutritious foods like produce products contain appreciable water concentrations. Sufficient systemic levels of water are crucial to preventing dehydration, which is a potentially serious ailment necessitating immediate and aggressive medical treatment.
Heightened Neuroplasticity
Neuroplasticity is a medical principle dictating that the brain is capable of forming new connections and ridding itself of old ones. This is critical for recovering dependents seeking to change brain chemistry and structures that developed during their addictions.
Dietary Tips For Recovering Dependents
To get the greatest benefit out of their dietary efforts, healing persons are encouraged to:
Consult With A Physician Or Nutritionist
Said healthcare providers can review each subject’s individual case and help formulate nutritional plans most benefiting their requirements. Several factors play into determining the most optimal diets to follow such as the former dependent’s age, current health, nutritional needs, and the drug they abused. The aforementioned professionals can render qualified assessments and make solid recommendations.
Create A Plan
Once initial evaluations are complete, a concrete plan can be developed. This blueprint should take into consideration the patient’s lifestyle habits and work schedule.
Adhere To The Plan
The key to getting the most out of any nutritional guideline is to follow said instruction. Engaging in such action also provides the recovering subject with structure and teaches them discipline. The adherent might be able to cheat once in a while. However, the key is making sure that they optimize nutritional levels with designs on expediting the recovery process.
Reaching Out To Us
Individuals with questions about this or any other addiction-related topic are urged to contact us. Moreover, those seeking to conquer existing dependencies are implored to reach our team of addiction specialists. Our Palm Beach, Florida-based recovery facility has helped countless people overcome dependencies to many different substances. Call us at 855-936-4435.
