When it comes to addiction recovery, a lot of people focus on the mental aspects of healing – going to AA meetings, reconnecting with loved ones, finding better social influences, etc.
But, we must not forget about the physical side of addiction recovery.
Addiction wreaks a tremendous amount of havoc on the body. When addicts are finally at the recovery state of their addiction, they must not forget to also focus on the physical aspects of their recovery.
This doesn’t mean they need to immediately start training for a marathon or even hitting the gym every day.
One simple and highly effective thing they can do as a recovering addict is to focus on improving their diet.
Eating the right foods can have a significant impact on their body’s ability to recover.
Read on to learn about the 4 best foods for addiction recovery.
1. Get Friendly With Fish
Fish is a healthy, easy-to-prep, and versatile food that an addict can center a lot of their meals around.
And, its nutrients can be extremely beneficial for recovering addicts. This is because many varieties of fish and seafood have a calming effect on the body and help it respond better to stress and anxiety.
Herring, sardines, mackerel, and salmon are some of the best options to add to their diet, due to their high level of omega-3s. Omega-3s are known to help stabilize their mood, as well as relieve some anxiety and depression.
If the addict despises the taste of fish, or they are a vegetarian, they can always opt for fish oil supplements.
2. Never Leave the House Without Water
Many addiction facilities emphasize the importance of holistic, lifelong recovery.
This means an addict should be developing habits during their inpatient recovery phase that they can bring with them into the real world.
One such habit that can start as soon as a person starts recovery is drinking water constantly.
Although technically not a food, we cannot stress enough how important it is to drink water as a recovering addict.
Water flushes out toxins and addictive substances, helps the organs to work more effectively, and keeps skin healthy.
Side note: if a person with an addiction are not already signed up for inpatient recovery, now is the time to do so. This website, which works on providing effective drug rehab marketing services, can tell a person more about the necessity of inpatient treatment.
3. Go Bananas for Bananas
Because an addict’s body has been so abused by alcohol and drugs, there is going to be a high level of nutrient and mineral depletion from their body.
Some of the most commonly depleted nutrients include magnesium, potassium, and electrolytes. These nutrients work to regulate blood pressure, muscle function, and nerves, and heartbeat. Without proper regulation, the addict will experience confusion, weakness, fatigue, and muscle cramping.
Bananas are one of the best sources of magnesium and potassium, as well as electrolytes. However, there are also other fruits which can provide the body with these nutrients as well. These include kiwis, papaya, peaches, and cantaloupes.
4. Get on Board With Broccoli
Substance abuse can completely destroy the liver. Without a functioning liver, the body cannot properly process nutrients from food.
Therefore, it is very important to eat foods that will help the liver perform at its optimal ability.
One such food that can do that is broccoli. Other greens that are also great for repairing the liver include kale, arugula, and cabbage.
If the addict not super into greens, consuming onions, shallots, or garlic can also help improve the liver’s function.
With these four foods in the diet, the addict’s body should be well on its way to repairing itself from addiction. Please drop a comment below if there are any questions about any of the foods on this list.