These Foods Can Power Your Physical and Mental Recovery from Drugs and Alcohol

A healthy diet can be the game-changer needed to have a successful recovery. By having regular mealtimes with nutritious food, things like mood swings and lack of motivation can disappear.

Let’s explore some foods that can help regulate cravings, heal the body, and strengthen your immune system.

Nutrition And Recovery

There’s nothing better than good, healthy food, especially during recovery. Eating healthy foods can do wonders for improving a patient’s physical and mental well-being.

 Here’s a list of some helpful guidelines for healthy eating:

  • eat at the same time
  • look for foods that are low in fat
  • make balanced meals with protein, carbs and fiber
  • add vitamins and mineral-rich foods into your diet

Feeling happy and healthy can go a long way to help stop any temptation of using again. By eating balanced, nutritious meals set at regular times, patients will begin to find they can tackle anything that comes their way.

Tips for Healthy Eating

A scheduled routine of healthy meals and snacks can be a delicious way to approach recovery. Having well-balanced meals will help to steady mood swings and build the motivation needed for recovery.

Here’s a list of some helpful tips for anyone in recovery :

  • eat regular healthy meals and snacks
  • drink lots of water
  • make time to workout
  • avoid caffeine and stop smoking
  • find counsellors or support groups
  • take vitamin and mineral supplements if advised by your doctor

A great way to fight any cravings to use again is to snack regularly until those feelings pass. Snacks like a fruit salad, yogurt, or an apple (usually junk food and candies can hurt your mood more than help it) will help steady any mood swings that show up.

The Power of Food in Recovery

Whether you’re in recovery or not, eating healthy is important. What you put in your body impacts how your brain works, your body functions, and can affect your emotions. A good night’s sleep, regular exercise, and time with friends and family all make a positive impact on recovery.

Check out these tasty seven foods for your next meal:

Poultry and Fish

Poultry and fish both have a crucial amino acid known as tyrosine. Tyrosine makes neurotransmitters such as dopamine and norepinephrine, which slow down the effects of alcohol or drugs, leaving you clear-headed and ready to take on the world.

And of course, protein is vital in the maintenance of your muscle tissue, so if part of your recovery routine includes the gym, make sure you get plenty of protein in your diet.

Tofu

Another great source of protein is tofu. When drinking alcohol, the liver is overloaded to clear the toxins out. Tofu contains antioxidants that help  prevent liver damage and slowly let the liver recover.

Regularly eating tofu is shown to help regulate your cholesterol and manage your weight, so it has a place in your weekly meal rotation.

Bananas

Who doesn’t love a banana? Other than being delicious in yogurt, cereal, or all on their own, bananas contain tryptophan, another amino acid that makes the neurotransmitter serotonin which helps with relaxation and sleep.

They’re also filled with potassium, which is a vital element in the human body. Addicts and people in withdrawal tend to have dramatically and potentially dangerously low potassium. If you’re in recovery, it’s the banana (not the apple) that can keep the doctor away.

Blueberries

Blueberries are packed full of antioxidants and also happen to be delicious. Antioxidants can help boost the immune system and clear out toxins that overload the body during addiction.

Yogurt

Yogurt is full of probiotics, which are great for keeping your gut healthy.. These probiotics can help fix your digestive tract harmed by using alcohol and drugs. A healthy gut has tons of benefits including increased energy, a bolstered immune system, and improved heart and brain function.

Green Vegetables

While someone has an active addiction, they may find they can’t absorb the essential vitamins needed in their diet. Vegetables can give the body and mind all the nutrients and vitamins it has missed. Get your broccoli, brussel sprouts and spinach on the regular and you’ll reap the health benefits.

Pasta

Pasta, whole grain pasta, in particular, is full of fiber and great for your digestive system. Like probiotics in yogurt, a diet high in fiber can help your digestive health and clear your body of any toxins.

Aspen can Help

Taking the first step into treatment for drugs or alcohol dependence can be scary if done alone. Let our team of medical professionals and recovery experts guide you as you begin to learn how to handle the stressors of a sober life.

Our team is ready to help you every step of your road to recovery and to help change your life for the better. Contact the Aspen Behavioral Group to learn how we can help.

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