According to an article published in the British Journal of Nutrition, 74 percent of people with substance abuse problems also suffer nutrition problems, such as malnutrition. But you cannot achieve physical or mental wellness in a state of malnutrition. So one of the most critical aspects of your rehab treatment is nutrition therapy. Through this therapy, you gain the building blocks you need for a better future with lasting sobriety.

Nutrition Problems of Substance Abuse

A man with a beard and mustache wearing a tie.When you abuse drugs or alcohol, you stop receiving the nutrients you need. After all, eating a well-balanced diet is very hard when intoxicated or high. Substance abuse also depletes your body of the vitamins and minerals you need for good health. During nutrition therapy at your outpatient rehab program in Memphis, TN, you learn about the role of nutrients for healthy recovery.

Not taking in enough vitamins and minerals, then robbing your body of the nutrients you do consume causes many problems. You suffer irritability, mood swings, sleep problems, and poor digestion. You also experience issues with your central nervous system.

When your brain does not function as it should, you then struggle with movement issues, focus, and clear thinking. You make bad decisions as a result of poor nutrition. Your brain also confuses hunger signals with drug or alcohol cravings. This means that not feeding your body and brain with food actually causes you to feed yourself with more drugs or alcohol.

Beyond these problems, not getting enough lean protein affects your internal organs and physical appearance. Your liver stops regenerating as it should, and your brain produces too little of critical neurotransmitters. You do not get the thiamine you need if you drink alcohol, which leads to problems with your neurology and metabolism.

Not getting enough fats also hurts brain functioning and mood. Too few complex carbohydrates cause your energy to wane. You also suffer uncontrolled blood sugar and poor gut health when you do not eat enough complex carbohydrates. Of course, for a balanced diet, overall wellness, and healthy digestion, you need an adequate daily intake of fruits and vegetables, too.

Benefits of Nutrition Therapy in Rehab

In rehab treatment and beyond, managing your cravings for drugs, alcohol, sugar, and caffeine plays an important role in relapse prevention. In nutrition therapy, you learn how eating highly palatable food helps you calm these cravings by giving your body more of what it needs for energy and wellness. To the contrary, taking in too much sugar or caffeine causes a rush and then the drop that only leads to more cravings.

In your nutrition therapy program, you learn how to make healthy dietary choices. You also learn how these choices affect your brain, liver, and other tissue health. While many people start or continue smoking after giving up drugs and alcohol, you also get to know how smoking damages your taste buds, adds to nutrient deficiencies, and affects your relationship with food.

Your nutritional therapy program also addresses weight problems you suffer because of your substance abuse. Maybe you experience extreme weight changes or seek to look and feel healthier. Weight changes often lead to depression and body image problems in recovery if you do not learn how to eat well. So in nutrition therapy, you gain a custom plan for meeting your health goals.

Nutritional improvement starts in rehab, but you must choose to continue what you learn at home after treatment. The full benefit of your nutrition therapy comes at three to 12 months after starting your healthy eating program. Managing proper nutrition after rehab is so crucial that you spend time in your nutrition therapy program learning how to plan meals, shop for groceries, and cook for your best wellness.

Where to Find Good Nutrition for Addiction Recovery in Memphis, TN

In Memphis, your best nutrition and overall wellness after addiction come from treatment in a quality rehab center. The programs and therapies you need along with nutrition include:

Memphis Recovery in Memphis, TN, provides all of these programs and therapies, along with nutrition therapy. Call Memphis Recovery now at 901-272-7751 to talk to an admissions counselor and learn more about the role of nutrition for your healthier future.