Healthy eatgives you a ing can go a long way in helping you stay sober and have long-term recovery.
Now that you are on the path to recovery, you may realize how your addiction and past lifestyle have taken a great toll on your body and your overall health. Restoring your health and keeping your body in tiptop shape now through proper diet allow you to lay a good foundation for your holistic recovery.
How addiction caused you physical damage
- Addiction has left your body malnourished due to poor diet. Most addicts also experience digestive problems brought by their drug use. Many addicts are in a bad physical shape when they enter rehab.
- Addiction has rewired your brain’s circuitry. Alcohol and drugs prevent your body from absorbing enough vital nutrients such as tryptophan, which gives you a sense of well-being.
- Addiction has damaged your immune system, increasing your risk for developing breast, liver, lung, or colon cancer.
- Addiction damages your liver. Heavy alcohol and drug use lowers your liver’s ability to filter toxins This causes the liver to swell and puts it at risk of developing liver cancer.
- Addiction also changes your appearance for the worse. Among the many visibly physical effects of drug and alcohol addiction are bloodshot eyes, scarred skin, weight loss, yellowing skin, rotting teeth, and many more.
Healthy eating tips for your recovery
While you may not be able to reverse the damage caused by your addiction, you can rebuild your body and make it stronger and healthier, as well as more attractive. You can also work with a dietician and nutritionist to guide you.
Here are some other tips that you can do to revitalize your body and keep it in tiptop shape as you journey through your recovery:
- Choose decaf. Caffeine in many drinks can be stimulating and therefore cause mood fluctuations that make it harder for you to resist drug or alcohol cravings.
- Avoid sugary and refined foods. Like caffeine, sugar and refined carbohydrates also cause mood fluctuations that make it harder for you to make healthy choices, as well as make you less likely to eat healthier options.
- Go for antioxidant-rich choices. Antioxidants help protect your cells from free radicals which damage your immunity and lead to cancer. Choose fruits and vegetables and add them religiously on your daily diet.
- Choose protein-rich foods. Your recovering brain needs protein, which is a key building block for reparing cells and tissues. Eat healthy and easy-to-digest proteins such as beans, fish, and poultry.
- Have fiber. Adding fiber to your diet will do great wonders to your substance-abused digestive system. Replace white flour with whole grains and consider taking over-the-counter fiber supplements.
- Snack smart. Eat regular, healthy snacks that replace your mid-meal cravings. Have a handful of nuts, hard-boiled eggs, fresh fruits, and yogurt.
- Consider a diet overhaul. With all the damage done to your body, you may consider changing your eating habits altogether. There are many diet programs as well as eating options available today that will help you eat healthier.
True recovery means restoring your mind and body. One of the best ways to rejuvenate your body after years of abuse is by healthy eating.
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