9 Food Tips to Keep In Mind during Drug Recovery

An important aspect of drug recovery is the diet. It is very important that recovering drug addicts eat a nutritious meal so that their body will get the strength to cope up with the withdrawal symptoms. Ideally, you should visit a nutritionist and come up with a personalized meal plan that will help you with the recovery process. And in case you can’t do it, make sure that you at least keep the following food tips in mind.

1. Eat Protein-Rich Foods

It is essential that you eat protein-rich foods every day. Protein repairs the cells and tissues in the body and revitalizes the organs. Plus, the drug use would have caused some serious damage to the neurotransmitters, which protein can help rebuild.  Ideally, you should spread out the daily protein intake over a number of meals rather than a single meal. Good sources of protein include eggs, chicken, nuts, etc. 

2. Hydrate Properly

Drinking adequate amounts of water during drug recovery is also important. Without proper water consumption, toxins will build up in your body, especially in your liver and kidneys. By drinking at least eight glasses per day, you flush out such toxins from the body which will help you in a more effective rehab from your drug addiction. Plus, proper hydration will also help you avoid bowel discomforts.

3. Stay Away From Processed Foods

Keep away from all processed foods. You have to remember that your liver is working hard to get rid of the toxins inside it. If you eat too many processed foods under such circumstances, you will only end up depositing more harmful artificial ingredients inside in the liver. And this excessive buildup of toxins in the liver can negatively affect your recovery process. This is why it is advised to never eat any processed food during recovery.

4. Consume Healthy Fats

While avoiding fatty foods is very much recommended, you should make it a point of eating foods that are rich in healthy fats. A good example of a healthy fat is Omega 3 fatty acids. Found in abundance in fish, these fats are said to be very helpful in controlling feelings of depression. And given that you will likely feel very depressed during recovery, eating foods with Omega 3 fatty acids should help you cope with such negative emotions. Other food items that contain these fats include flax seeds and nuts.

5. Eat Seaweed

If you are in the process of detoxing, then you should try eating about three ounces of seaweed on a daily basis. Seaweed contains sodium alginate that will bind itself to the drug remnants inside the body. And by doing so, they prevent the body from absorbing these harmful drugs. You can just add the seaweed in the salad or any other food.

6. Avoid Coffee

You should avoid coffee and any other consumable item that contains caffeine. The caffeine ingredient is known to cause anxiety and insomnia in some people. And these are two things you never want to feel when recovering from drugs. Plus, it also inhibits the proper absorption of vitamins by the body. Caffeine also tends to affect the neurotransmitters in the body and is also known to decrease dopamine levels. Drug addict who consumed lots of coffee during their recovery phase have been known to get back into drugs. This is why avoiding coffee is highly recommended. 

7. Keep Sugar Away

Excessive consumption of sugar can spike up blood sugar levels. And this can trigger extreme mood swings and depression in drug addicts. As such, you should stay away from sweetened foods. And this includes items that may not contain sugar but has artificial sweeteners.

8. Consume Ginger Tea

Ginger tea is known to contain a compound called gingerol that causes sweating. And this will help to sweat out the drug remnants inside the body. It also reduces feelings of stress, thereby helping you deal with the recovery much better. Plus, it is also a good remedy in case you are feeling any stomach discomfort.

9. No Refined Carbohydrates

Avoid all food items that contain refined carbohydrates. Not only do they strip out all the fiber from the grains, but the nutritive content is also mostly lost. So, choose to eat a bread made from whole grains rather than refined flour. The fiber in the whole grains will also work to improve the gastrointestinal functions in your body. As a result, the food will be digested properly and you will feel lesser bowel discomforts.