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The short answer is that diet and nutrition play a huge part in addiction recovery. It’s a straight line from a poor diet to poor health, and it can be a trigger to cravings and substance use. Substance use can wreak havoc on your appetite. Junk foods become a mainstay, and forgetting to eat is not uncommon. Basically, substance abuse does not go hand in hand with healthy eating choices. Knowing that when you arrive at a treatment facility, you may be dealing with poor nutrition or malnutrition, a nutrition counseling program will be an integral part of your treatment and recovery. NuLife Behavioral Health Massachusetts is happy to answer any questions you might have about your addiction treatment and recovery.
Diet in Addiction Recovery
A customized dietary plan is developed for each person as part of a nutrition counseling program. Coupled with exercise and lifestyle counseling, this plan helps to support a healthier lifestyle and the ability to have the best chance at a successful recovery without relapse. Nutrition counseling programs are led by certified nutrition counselors who take into consideration each person’s dietary needs, like food intolerances and sensitivities.
When your body receives the nutrients it needs to heal and thrive, you have more energy to put into your treatment. Nutrition counseling is most effective when it’s one layer of a holistic treatment plan. Pairing nutrition counseling with mental health counseling, group or family therapy, and experiential therapies like yoga or music therapy make for the most complete treatment experience possible.
What to Expect in a Nutrition Counseling Program
Getting the Right Nutrients the Right Way
Nutrition counseling focuses a lot on hydration because getting enough water and other hydrating fluids helps you to fully absorb and use key nutrients as well as flush out toxins. Also, if you are receiving any type of medication-assisted treatment (MAT), adequate fluids help with administering medication.
Reducing Cravings
If your body has suffered malnutrition because of your substance use, you can be deficient in many critical nutrients. This poor state of nutrition only sets you up for further potential drug or alcohol misuse. A customized dietary plan will make sure you are getting all of the vitamins, protein, and amino acids that you need to succeed in your treatment and recovery.
Better Mental Health
Anxiety and depression can easily be brought on by changes in blood sugar, mood swings, and more because of poor eating habits. Without the right amino acids, the body won’t produce the serotonin and dopamine you need to stabilize your mood. This is just another reason why having a dietary plan and receiving nutrition counseling are important parts of addiction treatment. Working in regular exercise with a better diet supports a stable mood and helps you cope better.
NuLife Behavioral Health Massachusetts Offers Nutrition Counseling
Addiction affects every part of your life, including your mental health, your relationships, and your diet. Many people struggling with addiction experience severe physical effects such as malnutrition, tooth decay, or even eating disorders. At NuLife Behavioral Health Massachusetts, a nutrition counselor will work with you to develop a customized dietary plan with exercise. This plan supports a boost to your mood as well as serves as a coping skill to help avoid relapse.
In addition to nutrition counseling, we offer:
- Biosound and biofeedback
- Experiential therapies
- Group therapy
- Family therapy
- Motivational interviewing
Nutrition counseling as part of your treatment experience benefits you physically and mentally. A focus on good nutrition is important at any stage of your life, but even more so as you work to be a better, healthier version of yourself through treatment and recovery. Contact NuLife Behavioral Health Massachusetts today at 888.568.2057 to learn more about holistic treatments like nutrition counseling.
