You know the mantra: You are what you eat. Cut out the fatty foods so you don’t clog your arteries with cholesterol. Go easy on the cheese and butter and eat your veggies. If you want to live longer, eat more fish, fruits, yogurt and whole grains. We equate good food with long life, but how many of us realize that eating the right kind of food can not only make you feel better but also help you recover from illnesses such as substance use disorders and mood disorders? Just as drugs change your brain chemistry, so does food. Eating junk food, skipping meals, and eating at irregular intervals can really damage your body and mind. Healthy food will help reduce your cravings for alcohol and drugs.
The Secret Ingredient to “Feel-Good” Foods
Boost your mood with serotonin, the “feel-good” chemical that is naturally produced in your body. Serotonin is also the active ingredient in antidepressants for those who suffer from depression, dysthymia, bipolar disorder and other affective disorders.
According to Health Ambition, here are the top 7 foods that will boost your serotonin levels:
• Butternuts
• Pineapple
• Bananas and plantain
• Kiwis
• Plums
• Tomatoes
• Dark chocolate
If Eating Better Is That Easy, Why Isn’t Everyone Doing It?
Eating right requires a changed mindset, and for individuals who have developed an addiction to alcohol or drugs, it takes a lot more than just simply giving them recommendations about what to eat. The recovery process is extremely complex. Through nutritional counseling, dietitians work in collaboration with clients and their addiction therapists to develop a nutrition care plan that supports treatment goals. With assistance, individuals who are in recovery will develop new habits like eating healthy meals on a regular basis, exercising more often, getting enough rest, and communicating consistently with one’s therapist, support groups and loved ones.
The Link between Addiction and Nutrition
People turn to drugs and alcohol because they like the “high” they get from the intoxication. Sometimes, individuals may already have a mood disorder which puts them at risk for substance abuse addiction; other times, affective disorders are drug-induced. Either way, as chemical dependence turns into addiction, those living with substance use disorders and mood disorders would also suffer from dehydration and malnutrition.
Where Can I Find an Addiction Treatment Program That Incorporates Nutrition?
Because of the role that nutrition plays in recovery, nutritional counseling is one of the vital holistic modalities that New Method Wellness utilizes in their treatment approach for substance abuse addiction. A premier dual diagnosis treatment center based in San Juan Capistrano, California, New Method Wellness offers integrated, comprehensive client-centered care, ranging from intensive outpatient services, trauma-informed care, executive lifestyle, and LGBTQ to residential care and psychoneuroplasticity. There’s something for everybody, and every single client is paired with two therapists so that no one falls through the cracks. Appearing on A & E’s Intervention, New Method Wellness has been recommended numerous times by Dr. Phil.
For more information about our programs, contact us today!
