Having a nutritious and well-balanced diet is important for everyone. If you don't fuel your body with the nutrients that it needs, it can negatively impact all areas of life. Lacking in key nutrients can cause sleep troubles, an inability to focus, or lack of energy - just to name a few.

A balanced diet should never be underestimated. Unfortunately, when someone is battling addiction, balanced diets are left to the wayside. One of the most over-looked effects of addiction is a deficiency in key nutrients and vitamins.

No matter what substance it is, they all have specific impacts on a person's health that vary. One thing that is the same across the board is that they can all prevent the body from receiving the nutrients it needs. Before we can go over how to start bringing balance to the body, let's look at the ways addiction impacts nutrition.

How Does Addiction Affect Nutrition?

Addiction does more damage to the body than just from the substance itself. When a person has an addiction, they may experience anything from:

Loss of appetite

Many substances will actually suppress appetite. Either from sending false signals of fullness to the body, or from the person forgetting to eat completely.

Unhealthy food choices

When someone is under the influence, they are less likely to make smarter choices about what they are giving their bodies. Being influenced by a substance is often when the "munchies" will or cravings for fast food or sweets will come into play.

Organ damage

It is not surprising that addiction can have a detrimental toll on organs. It is especially damaging on the organs that are responsible for the breakdown of nutrients and the processing of them.

Contributions to GI Disorders

Substances can contribute to chronic illnesses, especially when it involves the gastrointestinal tract (GI.) GI issues can prevent the rest of the body from being able to process nutrients.

What Happens When The Body Doesn't Get The Right Nutrients?

While this list is not solely unique to those coping with addiction, these symptoms can be further complicated by substance abuse.

High blood pressure
Weakened immune system
Tooth decay
Blood clots
Successful insulin production
Functioning of the brain

It is not an exhaustive list, either. Addiction can have never-ending impacts on a person's mental and physical well-being.

Healing Begins From The Inside Out

As addicts or those in recovery, healing is truly a process that begins from the inside out. When we are discussing healing, we are just not talking about the mental work required to begin a successful road to recovery.

Healing also means equipping the body with the right types of food and nutrients. This is so vital to recovering from any type of addiction. Generally, when someone begins treatment for addiction, you can generally see a process outlined like this:

Meeting With A Physician

Part of the process, for either inpatient or outpatient facilities, should always include a meeting with a physician. This can help paint a picture of the overall health problems being faced and what dietary changes may be needed.

Working With A Nutritionist

Working from notes taken by the physician, a nutritionist can help determine the vitamin needs of the client. This is where an individualized treatment plan is crucial for the road to recovery. Just like there is no treatment plan that will fit everyone, there is no diet that will work for everyone. Everyone has unique nutritional needs that may not apply to someone else.

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Recovery from addiction does not just begin with healing the mind. The overall health and physical state of the body needs to be addressed, as well. Even though nutrition is not a topic typically discussed with addiction, it doesn't have to stay this way.

If you are ready to fully embrace the changes needed for recovery, reach out to get started.

Nutrition and Addiction