Drug Addiction Withdrawal Diet

What is a withdrawal diet?

A withdrawal diet refers to a program of food(s) which have been devised to counter the effects caused by the addictive drugs in the addict’s body. The nutritional values of the foods form the basis on which the diets are chosen from. These foods provide the body with ingredients which it requires to fight the effects of the drug such as craving for the drug and side effects during the period of recovering from addiction. Another important role of the diet should be to help heal the damaged parts of the body or organs.

Before a diet is devised to help in recovery from addiction, there is need to first understand the substance which is causing the addiction. This will help to assess the harm it is likely to cause in the body and the various organs likely to be affected. The most affected body organ by almost all the addictive substances is the brain. Brain controls the functioning of all the other body organs and if it is affected by the drug, the functioning of the other body parts may change. A good recovery diet should focus on the affected areas and restore them to their functional states.

How do I understand the effects of a drug addiction?

Before choosing a diet, it is important to first understand the effects that the addictive substance has to our bodies. Most of the addictive substances have two major effects on our bodies. These are:-

The substance itself may affect the body, due to its chemical compounds.
The substance addiction may cause negative lifestyle changes, such as irregular eating, poor dieting, uncontrolled consumption of the addictive substance despite negative effects it has, among other effects.

What should my diet include to help me in recovery?

In the process of recovery, you may not be able to reverse all the damage caused by the drug. The good thing though is that a good nutrition can go a long way towards rebuilding a body that is stronger, healthier and even more attractive. There are key nutrients that these foods should have, in order to be able to offer the recovering power needed. In this guide, we will look at the general important nutrients which can help you recovery from varieties of addiction from different drugs. The following are some of these nutrients:-

Take foods rich in protein- proteins are the building blocks for our brains. Any recovering brain should therefore be supplied with sufficient amount of proteins. In the cases when the drug has affected the liver, if not too badly damaged, quality protein can help make it work efficiently. The choice of these proteins is equally important, as you should choose proteins that are easy to digest. Such sources of easily digestible proteins are fish, poultry and beans. Apart from the easy to digest proteins, the withdraw diet must include abundant potassium. For the potassium eat lots of easiest protein to digest and
also if you’re a vegan take a few spoons of amino acid powder with your meals. What I recommend is cooking tasty chicken vegetable soup with lots of ginger etc.
Take foods rich in fiber – most of the addictive substances, especially alcohol interferes with your digestive system, fiber intake is vital during recovery. Try to gradually start replacing your floor foods with whole grain foods. Foods such as brown rice, black beans, peas, artichokes and whole grain pasta will provide your body with valuable roughages for restoration of your digestive system functioning.
Try going decaf – it is a fact that the caffeine which is found in drinks such as sodas, tea and some other drinks is stimulating. While you are trying to recover from a stimulant addiction, it may trigger hard to resist cravings due to moods fluctuations. This makes it difficult to avoid taking the drug. It is also important to note that the stimulant found in such drugs can also be a habit forming and addictive. Avoid them!

Withdrawal Diet

As much as possible, avoid sugary foods and refined carbohydrates – in the same way as caffeine, sugar and refined carbohydrates can cause mood fluctuations hence causing harder to resist cravings for the substance. They also have another disadvantage in that they give your body empty calories hence making you less likely to eat nutrients that your body desperately needs.
Eat foods rich in antioxidants – these nutrients play a big role in restoring your immune system. They do this by protecting cells from free radical damage that can lead to cancer. Foods rich in these nutrients are fruits and vegetables. Consider including some of the following fruits in your diet:- apples, strawberries, blueberries etc, or vegetables like; broccoli, peppers, carrots etc in every daily meals.
If your addiction had something to do with the diet you were taking, consider a diet do-over: look back and see the damage that the addiction has caused to your body and see whether it was triggered by your diet. If the diet played a role, consider completely doing and overhaul and begin eating healthy. Ensure that you are supplying your body with the correct nutrients that it requires.

Are you struggling with recovery from addiction? Or are you an addict and you feel it’s time to seek your help? All you need to do is to call or visit: Awaremed wellness and resource center (www.awaremednetwork.com)