Alcohol addiction is a global burden that affects both the young and the old. Recently, there has been an influx of addicts seeking help from programs like Adelante Recovery center. But, most addicts neglect their bodies and nutritional needs, which further derail the recovery process. Nonetheless, nutrition plays a significant role in addiction recovery.
What’s the connection between alcohol abuse and nutrition?
Food is vital for the proper functioning of your body. It also helps the body rebuild itself during alcohol addiction recovery. Food influences your brain function; when your body doesn’t produce adequate brain chemicals, you feel tired, anxious, and irritable. What’s more? You experience food cravings and have difficulties sleeping.
Alcohol consumption also affects your feeding habits. When drunk, you;
- Eat less food
- Choose less nutritious foods.
- Skip meals
- Damage your gut, making it unlikely to absurd all the
- nutrients
- Lose nutrients through diarrhea and vomiting
What should you eat during alcohol recovery?
During recovery, a diet that helps balance your serotonin levels comes in handy. You should consume high-carbohydrate foods or complex carbohydrates from legumes, potatoes, root vegetables, carrots, pasta, and bread. Combining these foods with proteins will keep your body healthy and strong.
What of vitamins? Vitamin deficiency is common in alcoholics. The common deficiencies are;
- Folic
- Folate
- Thiamine
- Vitamin B
- Vitamin C
Chronic alcohol consumption encourages the loss of vital vitamins such as zinc and magnesium.
How can I feed properly during recovery?
1. Check your diet
During the first year after stopping alcohol use, your nutritional needs are higher. Practice proper eating habits and eat highly nutritious foods daily and avoid skipping meals.
The best recovery diet includes;
- Complex carbohydrates, including plenty of grains
- Fruits
- Vegetables.
- Moderate protein
- Dairy products and foods rich in calcium
- Fats such as canola, olive, flaxseed
Combine various food types from different groups and eat high-fiber foods. Also, drink plenty of clean water and talk to your doctor about managing symptoms like diarrhea and constipation.
2. Start with small servings.
Introduce meals slowly during the initial stages of detoxification. Your body may have issues with digestion, and it’s advisable to start with small servings. These should be frequent, and you may notice some weight changes. If your eating behavior or weight gain seems out of control, talk to your doctor or seek help from a nutritionist.
3. Avoid sugar and caffeine.
Eat a balanced diet, and don’t let this replace your drugs. Most addicts use sugar, sweets, or caffeine as substitutes during recovery. These substances contain low amounts of nutrients and will hinder you from eating healthy. What’s more? Sugar will affect your cravings and moods and can trigger a relapse.
4. Take vitamin supplements
Vitamin supplements will help replenish the deficiency caused by alcoholism. Some of the essential vitamins for healthy brain function include;
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin A
- Folic acid
- B12
- Glutamine
A quick wrap up
Alcohol recovery takes a lot of effort. Seek help from the addiction center and follow the dietary recommendations. You need a healthy body for a full recovery and can only achieve this through proper nutrition.
