The Importance of Nutrition for Recovering Alcoholics

Alcoholism can have a great impact on a person’s health and life in general. It is often what brings a person to realization that they need professional help. Alcohol use disorder affects around 15.1 million adults in America each year, based on findings in the 2015 National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism survey. Some people may think that once they have given up their addiction that they can indulge in sweets and fatty foods to their heart’s content, but it can be detrimental to their sobriety. Healthy nutrition for recovering alcoholics is in fact an important part of staying sober.

Why is Nutrition for Recovering Alcoholics Important?

The first thing a person needs to realize is just how much havoc alcohol dependence causes to a person’s body. The abuse of alcohol can cause the body to lack the nutrients it needs as a result of how alcohol affects the assimilation of nutrients. Alcoholism and nutritional deficiencies it causes can only be remedied by improving your diet.

Mounting evidence suggests that the right nutrition for recovering alcoholics can be a significant factor in recovery by improving the health and mental vitality of the individual. Additionally, nutritional education can assist in the long-term recovery of an alcoholic.

Tips in the Nutrition for Alcoholics

Nutrition for alcoholics should be about establishing a healthy eating routine. The foundation for the eating plan should be established early on in recovery. Since many addicts do not have healthy eating habits, early recovery is the best time to make changes. Eating healthy is not just about avoiding eating junk food but it’s also about eating at regular intervals. Depression can be linked with poor eating habits too, adding to the reasons why a good eating habit should be established as soon as possible.

Alcohol causes a spike in a person’s blood sugar levels due to alcohol being converted into sugar. As such, many recovering alcoholics crave sugar when they stop using alcohol. However, too much sugar is not healthy. Fluctuations in a person’s blood sugar levels can have an impact on their mood and cause anxiety. Therefore, it is important to try and keep blood-sugar levels as balanced as possible.

Caffeine can also be a problem for some recovering due to the spike in blood-sugar levels. It is advised that a recovering alcoholic only drink one cup a day. The crash that is caused after a rapid increase in a person’s sugar levels can result in undesired effects that can cause the risk of relapse to increase.

As a part of the preferred diet, easily digestible foods are a must. Since alcoholism and nutritional deficiencies go hand in hand, adding food types such as rice, oatmeal and vegetables can help to restore healthy function while not being a strain on the digestive system. Furthermore, many of the vitamins and minerals that are lacking due to substance abuse, such as vitamin D and B, should be replaced by eating the right foods and possibly adding multivitamins to your diet.

Moderation

Even healthy food can be abused. Everything should be taken in moderation, including the foods that become a part of a recovering alcoholic’s diet. A diet plan can be created with the help of the professionals at a rehab center and then it is up to the recovering person to stick to the plan and not overdo it.

Nutrition for recovering alcoholics is another one of the aspect that can help recovering addicts achieve long-term success in their sobriety. The White Sands Treatment Centers stand ready to help you or a loved one on the road to long-term sobriety. Call us at (877) 855-3470 today.

If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.