Using substances can take a toll on physical and mental health. From our experience, much of the harm caused by addiction and problematic substance use can be healed through treatment and recovery. In this article, we explore the role that nutrition plays in the recovery process, with a particular focus on men’s nutrition.
Why Is Nutrition Important In Treatment/Recovery?
The negative effects of substance use on the body are two-fold. Firstly, substances themselves may harm the body and mind in a variety of ways. This depends on the substance, how it’s used, and what it might be mixed or cut with (potentially leading to many different medical conditions and issues). Secondly, substance use tends to lead to negative lifestyle changes such as a nutrient-poor diet and irregular eating patterns.
For example, substance use can cause loss of appetite, nausea, and other digestive issues, leading to a decreased intake of essential nutrients. Additionally, drugs and alcohol can interfere with the body’s ability to absorb and utilize nutrients. Certain substances, such as alcohol, can also directly deplete the body of essential nutrients, like thiamine and folate, or impair the liver’s ability to store and use certain vitamins.
In dealing with active addiction, nutrition may take a back seat compared to something like overdose prevention or acute psychiatric services. But in the long term, the role of nutrition is undeniable. Proper nutrition can help both in treatment and recovery. Healthy food supplies the body with energy, helps to maintain the body’s systems, and is key to fighting off disease and infection.
Here are four components of nutrition that we focus on at our centres.
1. Balanced Macronutrients
Macronutrients are the building blocks that our body needs in large amounts to function properly. These include protein, carbohydrates, and fats. A well-balanced diet should include all of these, focusing especially on lean proteins (chicken, fish, and turkey), complex carbohydrates (whole grains and vegetables), and healthy fats (nuts, seeds, and avocados).
2. H2O – Let it flow!
Water is life. Nothing can replace the job that water does in your body. Drinking enough water is crucial for overall health, and especially important for folks in recovery. Staying hydrated can help flush out toxins, regulate body temperature, and support healthy organ function. At SCHC, we take water so seriously that we have it on tap!
3. Essential Vitamins And Minerals
In the short term, fast food is quick, delicious, and satisfying. However, if you’ve ever tried living off onion rings, you’ll know that—despite how satisfying they are to the senses—your body will quickly begin to crave something else.
Our bodies absolutely depend on a steady intake of vitamins and minerals in order to function sustainably. Known vitamins include A, C, D, E, and K, and the B vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12), as well as biotin and folic acid. Dietary minerals—our long-forgotten friends from the periodic table of elements—are also crucial to health and well-being. These include calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, chloride, magnesium, iron, zinc, iodine, sulphur, cobalt, copper, fluoride, manganese, and selenium.
To achieve a diet with adequate vitamins and minerals, we need diverse and nutrient-dense ingredients. In some cases where nutrition levels are lower than what can realistically be addressed in the short term, dietary supplements may be needed to help fill in the gaps.
4. Whole Foods
No, we’re not talking about the yuppie grocery franchise. We’re talking real, actual foods. Did you know that foods which are high in sugar and processed ingredients can wreak havoc on blood sugar levels and lead to cravings for drugs or alcohol? In contrast, a diet that is low in simple sugars and processed foods can help stabilize blood sugar and reduce cravings.
It’s Not Just What You Eat
Over the last few years, Canada’s food guide recommendations have begun to focus not just on what we eat but how we eat it. In particular, eating with others is presented as a strong dietary recommendation for Canadians. For men in recovery, eating in good company can help promote social well-being, which is a key component of recovery. Other eating habits, such as mindful eating (paying attention to the food that you’re eating) can also support better uptake of nutrients and digestion. This makes it easier to tune in to hunger and fullness signals and generally promotes dietary well-being.
How Can Nutrition Support Recovery?
Nutrition can support recovery by restoring the body’s balance. It can also support the healing process for both physical and mental health, improving mood and reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety. Nutrition can also promote vitality in men, helping to rebuild and maintain muscle mass, and promoting physical strength and overall health. Moreover, nutrition can help to reduce cravings by stabilizing blood sugar and providing a sense of control and empowerment.
In conclusion, nutrition is a crucial aspect of the recovery process for men in treatment and recovery. Taking responsibility for our diet is a great first step to regaining control of health and well-being.
At SCHC, our inclusion and focus on nutrition allow clients to show up fully for their clinical programming and therapy. This results in fewer negative impacts related to poor mood and mental health as a result of inadequate nutrition.
As a centre specializing in treatment and recovery, our registered nutritionist works with clients to develop a personalized nutrition plan that meets their individual needs. By prioritizing good nutrition and healthy food habits, men in recovery can enhance their chances of long-term health and success.
What If I’m Not Ready For Treatment/Recovery?
Even in situations where individuals are not wanting to end the cycle of addiction, there are ways to help mitigate the harms of substance use through dietary choices. But getting serious here for a moment, we also understand that many of the trajectories involving problematic substance use lead to overdose and death, and that no amount of fresh greens can undo the irreversible.
Everyone has their own personal and cultural relationship with food. At Sunshine Coast Health Centre, we don’t see meals as one-size-fits-all. As an evidence-based centre, we make use of in-house nutritionists and existing food guidelines to provide the best food options for clients in a personalized way that promotes health, choice, and good eating habits.
Sunshine Coast Health Centre and Georgia Strait Women’s Clinic are world-class centers for addiction treatment and mental health. We take an approach that recognizes the physical, psychological, social and spiritual aspects of treatment and recovery. If you or someone you know is looking for support with mental health and/or substance use, give us a call today.
