What Role Does Nutrition Play in Addiction Recovery and Mental Wellness

What Role Does Nutrition Play in Addiction Recovery and Mental Wellness

A proper diet can reverse the depletion of key nutrients and can heal as well as nourish the body and the brain. The lack of certain foods or a lack of certain foods may make you more likely to experience mood imbalances. Certain foods can stabilize mood and reduce stress, improve sleep and significantly improve a person’s experience in recovery.

Proper nutrition can help with the healing process because nutrients are a good supply of energy to the body because they provide substances for the body to build and maintain healthy organs which are able to fight off any infection. Nutrition is a very important part of health and development. Poor nutrition can lead to malnutrition, GI disorders, low blood sugar and organ damage. It is important to note that good nutrition will aid in physical recovery by replenishing lost nutrients and helps individuals get back to on track to wellness.

The most important components of nutrition in addiction recovery include a diet consisting of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals and vitamins. There are four main goals of recovery nutrition which are: Restore, Replace, Repair and most importantly Rest.

• Restore is about restoring the fluids and electrolytes lost by drinking sufficient liquids.
• Replace is about replacing the carbohydrates because these are one’s brain and the body’s main source of fuel.
• Repair involves repairing of torn muscle tissue with an intake of sufficient protein.
• Rest as the name suggests is very important and individuals need to at least have 8 to 10 hours of sleep daily.

Nutrition in recovery is a crucial component in-order to improve one’s overall performance. The focus needs to be on restoring fluids lost, replacing both carbohydrates and proteins and most importantly resting is needed.

Stories of Recovery

• The encouragement, love and support from the team at Crossroads allowed me to eventually see that I was worth something - that my life could be turned around and that I could accomplish the things that had long been a forgotten dream.
  Oliver VG
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• On the last day of my stint at Crossroads I could only express gratitude towards all who works there. A wise councillor once commented on my question when one is ready for rehab by explaining that when one is ready for rehab, rehab is ready for you.
  Johan B
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• I was lost and my soul was broken until I ended up at Crossroads and was introduced to the Twelve Steps. With the help of their excellent staff and amazing support I have recently been clean for 18 months, I could not have done it without them!
  Carla S
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• "Just for today I am more than three years in recovery. I have Cross Roads to thank for this wonderful gift. Cross Roads helped me to set a firm foundation in my recovery on which I can continue to build."
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