Proper Nutrition During Detoxification – What Your Body Needs
When you stop using drugs or alcohol, your body begins the recovery process. During this period, it becomes critically important for you to focus on your diet. Balanced nutrition gives your body the fuel it needs to begin to heal from past substance abuse.
How Does Alcohol and Drug Use Impact the Body?
Substance abuse is damaging to the body in many ways. Drinking excessively and using illegal substances can lead to significant physical damage. It can impact the brain, liver, kidneys, and your heart.
In addition, many people who have an addiction engage in lifestyle choices that aren’t ideal for health. For example, you may not eat well, get exercise, or engage in physical activity. This, too, causes changes to your long-term health.
The goal of nutritional support during detox is to work to restore the proper balance of nutrition in the body. The foods you take in go to work to heal. They can help each cell of the body to function properly. They can also help to give you energy and support your activities.
Just improving your nutritional quality can help you to feel better mentally and physically. However, the benefits multiply when nutritional support is a part of a more comprehensive addiction treatment process.
What Does Your Body Need During Detox?
It’s not ideal to focus on any type of fad diet. This isn’t the time to lose weight, either. Rather, the goal tends to focus on giving your body high-quality nutrition. You need a wide range of vitamins and minerals that support proper cellular function within the body.
Whole Grains
Whole grains provide your body’s cells with the fuel it needs to function. This includes supporting the immune system as it works to help you heal. Whole grains are very important in supporting weight gain in those who may have lost significantly. The fiber in them can also help to flush away toxins built up in your system.
Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and vegetables contain a high level of nutrition. This is the best place to get access to the vitamins and minerals you need on a daily basis. The key is to choose a variety of colors, since each color represents a different level of vitamin or mineral within them. It’s a good idea to choose those with high antioxidants to flush out toxins in the body. Examples include blueberries and raspberries.
Lean Protein
Consuming a high level of protein isn’t always necessary, but having nutrient-rich, lean protein in your diet is quite important. It helps to support muscle rebuilding and can help to give your cells the ability to function at their highest level. During detox, good protein sources, such as salmon and lean cuts of chicken, can help you to regain your energy.
Fighting Illness Is Important During Detox
Another way that nutrition becomes vital during detox is by giving your body the support it needs to fight the illnesses you may have as a result of your addiction. When you enroll in our detoxification program in Lafayette, Louisiana, for example, our team works with a medical professional to address any types of medical illness you have. Diet may be a component of managing these conditions.
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, those who have a substance abuse problem are more likely to suffer from conditions such as:
- Diabetes
- Metabolism-related problems such as difficulty processing energy
- Nutritional deficiencies related to Vitamin B, Vitamin K, and Vitamin C
- Liver disease
- Pancreatic disease
By tailoring your diet to address these specific conditions, it may be possible to improve your overall well-being. That’s something you will work on with your team.
Your nutrition is vital to your long-term recovery and an important part of your detox treatment at Victory Addiction Recovery Center.
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