Good nutrition plays a big role when healing from addiction. What you put in your body impacts your mood and energy for the day. That’s why Villa Oasis San Diego focuses on high-quality nutrition for our clients. Addiction is hard on your body, so it’s important to be mindful of the foods you eat during treatment and recovery from substance abuse.
Addiction’s Impact on Your Body
Substance use disorders can impact your body on multiple levels. Those in active addiction might not eat enough or eat too much. Certain substances can impact your metabolism, organs function, and mental health. It’s common for people to gain weight after quitting substances because they find comfort in food, which can lead to overeating.
When a person quits substances, their body is also going through withdrawal. A lack of nutrition can make this process even more difficult. Many withdrawal symptoms, like vomiting or diarrhea, can expel nutrients and water from the body.
This is why people in treatment must focus heavily on what they put in their bodies during this time. Early treatment is the best time to learn these important skills so your body can properly heal.
How Nutrition Helps You Heal
During treatment and recovery, healthy food makes your body feel good. Filling your body with essential vitamins and minerals can ease the pain of withdrawal and erase feelings of fatigue and low mood. You’re less likely to turn back to substance use if you feel better.
Putting healthy food in your body can also improve your immune system, which is often negatively affected by addiction. Thankfully, as your body adjusts to sobriety, your appetite will return to normal. Regulating what you eat and when you eat will help you recognize your body’s hunger cues and make it easier to plan.
Foods to Focus On
When you start treatment, you’ll need to prioritize protein, complex carbohydrates, and fiber. These will give you the energy boost you need to fight withdrawal symptoms. Adding fiber to your diet will ease withdrawal symptoms like diarrhea and constipation. You should eat low-fat foods since high-fat foods can be very heavy and negatively impact your digestion.
However, you don’t need to cut fat completely. Focus on healthy fats like omega-3 fatty acids. During this time, it’s also crucial to eat many water-rich foods to stay hydrated.
The Best Eating Habits
Eating your meals on schedule will help your body know when you eat. It can also make it easier to prepare meals. You’ll know when you plan to eat dinner, allowing you to make dinner before you’re hungry.
Remaining physically active while you adjust your nutrition is also important. Regular exercise can regulate your appetite and raise your metabolism. Regular exercise can also slow down weight gain, which is common for people who eat more than normal.
You should also drink plenty of water, especially between meals. Keeping your body hydrated can reduce withdrawal symptoms, keep your digestive system regular, and ensure your organs function properly. As mentioned above, withdrawal symptoms can make dehydration more likely because your body loses a lot of water. More water should be consumed if you’re physically active outside in hot weather or in the sun.
Nutrition at Villa Oasis San Diego
At Villa Oasis San Diego, every client can have healthy and nutritious meals prepared by an on-site personal chef. The nutrition staff at Villa Oasis San Diego keeps healthy eating habits in mind, ensuring that what you put in your body brings you one step closer to feeling happy and whole again. Eating well is important at Villa Oasis San Diego because it’s a part of our holistic approach to healing and care.
A holistic approach considers every factor contributing to addiction, including the body. As you take care of your physical body, you will find that you will be motivated and encouraged to work on your mental health as well. Creating healthy eating habits while in treatment will help put you on the right path as you begin your recovery journey.
What you put in your body can determine your energy levels, your mood, and how well you can be physically active. When a person is struggling with addiction, they most likely aren’t paying attention to what goes into their body and how it could be affecting their well-being.
In addiction treatment, we focus on nutrition because we know that the body is trying to heal. This is why extra care is needed when your body is being rehabilitated. Learning about nutrition in treatment can also set you up for positive habits that can be carried on after treatment and into sobriety. Eating well can lower the chance of relapse because your mood, stress levels, and energy won’t be affected by foods that can be draining.
To learn more about our nutrition program and personal chefs at Villa Oasis San Diego, call us at (323) 739-8673.
