When you think about the addiction recovery process, chances are nutrition and what you eat probably aren’t one of the first things that come to mind. However, what you eat plays a significant role in not just your physical health, but your mental health, mood, and even your cognitive function. This is why eating a well-balanced diet is so important, regardless of whether you are recovering from addiction or not. In this article, you’ll learn more about eating healthy and the recovery process, and why you need to prioritize a healthy diet in recovery and beyond.
Worthy Wellness is a leading women’s San Diego drug rehab committed to helping patients safely and effectively achieve long-lasting sobriety. Whether you are struggling with mental illness, addiction, or a co-occurring disorder, we are here to help you every step of the way along your road to recovery. We offer a variety of addiction treatment services so you can receive the right care for your unique recovery needs. Contact us today to learn how we can best support your recovery.
How Eating Healthy Can Support Your Recovery Journey
Nutrition is oftentimes overlooked when it comes to addiction recovery. However, what you eat each day has a greater impact on your recovery process than you may realize. Keep reading to learn more about eating healthy and the recovery process below.
- Supports Physical Health and Wellness
First, eating a healthy, well-balanced diet filled with fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains will improve your physical health and wellness. Eating a balanced diet and limiting your sugar and processed food intake will inevitably improve your physical health which will not only make your body feel better but also help support your recovery process.
- Boosts Overall Mood
Eating healthy foods in the recovery process and beyond also helps boost your mood. When you are just starting your road to recovery and detoxing, you will likely be irritable as you overcome withdrawal symptoms and adapt to living life free from drugs. However, eating healthy is one simple yet highly effective way you can boost your mood whether you are just starting your recovery journey, or have been sober for years.
- Improves Energy Levels
Eating healthy also helps improve energy levels. Your energy levels can impact not only your personal and professional responsibilities, but your energy levels can impact how vulnerable you are to falling for triggers or cravings to abuse drugs. In other words, if you are feeling more tired or sluggish because you eat highly processed foods that make you feel exhausted, you will inevitably put yourself at an increased risk of falling victim to triggers thus potentially jeopardizing your sobriety.
- Supports Mental Clarity and Focus
A well-balanced diet also helps support your cognitive function, mental clarity, and focus which all contribute to your recovery progress. Similar to your mood and energy levels, your mental clarity and focus can allow you to recognize and respond to triggers you may face more effectively so you can reduce your risk of relapse, rather than unhealthy foods that don’t support your cognitive function.
- Lowers Cravings and Urges to Abuse Drugs
Last but not least, as mentioned above, eating healthy can help lower cravings and urges to abuse drugs. This is because a well-balanced diet will support your mood and energy levels, so you will be less tired and stressed. And, when an individual is tired or stressed they are oftentimes more vulnerable to triggers and relapsing. Because relapsing is your greatest threat to achieving long-term sobriety with 40-60% of people treated for substance use disorders relapsing, it’s critical to prioritize healthy habits like healthy eating.
Ready to Start Your Road to Recovery?
As you can see, eating healthy and the recovery process are closely linked, and a healthy diet can help support your overall recovery progress. Eating a diet high in sugar and processed foods will not only harm your physical health, but it can lower your mood and energy levels which can ultimately put you at an increased risk of relapsing and jeopardizing your sobriety.
At Worthy Wellness, we are here to help you every step of the way along your road to recovery. Sometimes it can be scary to ask for help, especially when it comes to mental health or addiction struggles. However, you should never feel like you need to suffer in silence with your addiction or mental illness. Our caring team is here to help you receive the tailored support you need to take back control of your health and quality of life. Ready to start your recovery journey? Contact us today!
