Substance abuse can take a significant toll on your body and often leads<\/a> to poor nutrition. Making sure that you\u2019re taking care of yourself and setting your body up for success is crucial. Drug detox<\/a> isn\u2019t solely about quitting the use of a substance. It\u2019s also about replacing the bad with the good. To this end, it is important that you plan healthy dietary choices as you start your drug-free life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Substance abuse often enables poor dieting choices like late-night eating, skipping meals and unhealthy food choices. Many drugs, when abused, may also prevent your body from receiving the proper nutrients it needs from foods. Abusing drugs can reduce your daily nutrition intake, making detox and a proper diet even more vital to your full recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While detox withdrawal symptoms<\/a> vary based on the substance, one of the more common symptoms is a lack of appetite, usually accompanied by nausea and vomiting. When you find the strength to keep food and liquids down again, it\u2019s crucial to hydrate and feed your body the proper nutrients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A balanced diet is important for those abstaining from drugs and alcohol: a healthy diet positively impacts<\/a> your overall mood and health and can reduce symptoms<\/a> of depression and anxiety felt during early recovery.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n When you are trying to break from drug addiction, you may have a tendency to consume too much sugar. Sugar has an effect on the brain\u2019s dopamine levels<\/a>, triggering the reward center of the brain. Addictive drugs like opioids or stimulants also trigger the brain\u2019s reward center, so the body may crave sugar for a fast dopamine release during early recovery.<\/p>\n While a limited amount of sugar is fine in addiction recovery, people in recovery are in danger<\/a> of replacing a drug addiction with a sugar addiction. Overconsumption of sugar can also be a health risk for obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and other serious issues. It is for these reasons that experts warn<\/a> about consuming unlimited quantities of sugar and instead recommend opting for a healthier diet.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t When you detox from drugs, your body and mind go through some drastic changes. A drug rehab center<\/a> will help ease the transition with medication-assisted treatment where necessary, but you will still be subject to some physical and emotional effects.<\/p>\n Some people suddenly become incredibly hungry once they have completed the detox process. This is likely a positive sign since you may be underweight or in poor health. The difficulty is that many of the food cravings are for sugary substances, which are not necessarily the best choice.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Eating too much sugar will just lead to more sugar cravings. This is a familiar addictive cycle that you would probably like to avoid. Instead, you can control these cravings and rebuild your health by eating regular meals that are rich in protein and nutrients.<\/p>\n Some of the healthy meals that you might eat in a drug rehab include:<\/p>\n While proper nutrition can serve as a significant benefit to your recovery, some of these other healthy habits may influence a healthier lifestyle:<\/p>\n Drugs won\u2019t have provided the best nutritional value to your diet. The nutrition your body needs will sometimes vary depending on the substance you\u2019ve been using. Here are some common addictions and what to eat for each:<\/p>\n\n\n Opioids like oxycodone and heroin affect the digestive system<\/a>. Individuals addicted to these substances will often deal with constipation, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. Because of this, individuals with\u00a0opioid addictions<\/a>\u00a0typically have electrolyte imbalances. Focusing on a high-fiber diet will\u00a0help decrease the chances of gastrointestinal problems<\/a>, especially if the person is starting medication-assisted therapy with methadone or buprenorphine to stay sober. Some foods that are rich in fiber include:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Stimulants such as\u00a0cocaine<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0methamphetamine<\/a>\u00a0are\u00a0linked to reduce appetite<\/a>, so your body may need increased calories to help you gain weight if you are too thin. Methamphetamine can also\u00a0cause dental problems<\/a>\u00a0that can make it hard to chew. Due to the\u00a0risk of malnutrition<\/a>, it is important for a healthcare provider to evaluate you for nutritional deficiencies. Leaving these uncorrected\u00a0may cause<\/a>\u00a0additional drug cravings. You will likely need to increase your intake of nutrient-rich foods like:<\/p>\n It may be tempting to take these broad categories and try to fit junk food into them, but nutrient-dense foods are always the better option.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Although alcohol is more accessible than other drugs, it can certainly be just as damaging to the body (if not more so). Alcohol has lots of empty calories and the lack of nutrition that develops with prolonged alcohol use shows.<\/p>\n Alcoholism usually causes deficiencies in vitamin B6, thiamine and folic acid. Individuals with alcoholism also often have an imbalance of fluids, electrolytes and protein. All of this can lead to a damaged liver and pancreas, as well as high blood pressure and seizures. Taking a good multivitamin can help to replace some of the deficient nutrients that commonly occur with alcoholism.<\/p>\n Someone in recovery from an alcohol use disorder will need a\u00a0well-rounded diet<\/a>\u00a0to combat the often severe malnutrition. Women who have been heavy drinkers for a while will often benefit from calcium supplements because they may be at a higher risk for osteoporosis.<\/p>\n See More:\u00a0<\/strong>Best Diet & Types of Foods to Eat for Alcohol Detox<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0\u00a0How to cleanse your liver from alcohol<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Unlike other drugs,\u00a0marijuana can increase your appetite<\/a>. However, this often means eating foods high in fat and sugar. During detox, your focus will be on reducing your caloric intake and finding balance with foods that nourish your body.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n Certain foods help promote drug and alcohol detox<\/a> and recovery. These foods are usually low in carbohydrates, sugars and fats, though this can vary depending on the person and their substance abuse. Some\u00a0examples of these foods<\/a>\u00a0include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s important to eat regularly scheduled, balanced meals containing proper caloric and nutritional values. Many people struggling with substance abuse often possess some nutritional deficiencies, which can impact neurotransmitters in the brain and may contribute<\/a> to depression and anxiety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dehydration is also common during detox.<\/strong> Staying hydrated can help you avoid several negative side effects, like muscle cramps, headaches and fatigue. Limiting caffeine intake is also recommended in detox dieting because it can trigger neurotransmitters in the brain and lead to increased stimulation, something that is best avoided during the detox process.<\/p>\n\n\n There are many reasons to select foods that are nutrient-dense to support your overall health and recovery journey. Here are a few.<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t Junk food is full of empty calories and few nutrients. Addiction can make it difficult to recognize when nutritional deficiencies have developed. When you are healing from addiction, providing your body with missing nutrients is important to maintain your overall health. Important nutrients\u00a0include<\/a>:<\/p>\n Junk food is low in fiber. Fiber is\u00a0important<\/a>\u00a0for a healthy digestive tract, especially if you are recovering from an opioid addiction, which commonly causes gastrointestinal side effects during withdrawal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Many people in recovery use sugar and caffeine to keep feeling awake and alert. However, this can cause swings in blood sugar levels that\u00a0may lead to drug cravings<\/a>. Also, eating foods with high sugar content\u00a0can trigger a physiologic reaction<\/a>\u00a0similar to drugs in that it triggers the brain\u2019s reward system. Instead of getting healthier, you run the risk of trading one addiction for another.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n Many people who have been using drugs for a long time forget how hunger feels<\/a>. Once their body begins recovering, those feelings may come back in full force. Nutrition experts recommend<\/a> staying on a regular meal schedule during and after detox, as this will teach your body when to expect food and can help keep hunger under control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You don\u2019t need to become a master chef to cook healthy food. You may be surprised how learning just a few basic meals can benefit your overall nutrition levels. EatingWell has a great collection of Cooking 101 tutorials<\/a>, but there are many other resources available online. You might even consider investing in a slow cooker. With a slow cooker, you put the ingredients in, turn it on and let it cook, and a few hours later, you have a hot meal waiting for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Deciding to detox is a difficult step for many people. But having a plan in place can make things go much smoother. Here\u2019s what to remember when you\u2019re planning your meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A meal plan can help you structure a healthy way of living. It\u2019s important to remember to balance protein, fruits, vegetables and whole grains throughout the day. An example of a meal plan for each meal could include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Addiction and substance abuse affect nearly all aspects of life. At the Recovery Village, our multidisciplinary staff and registered dietitians specialize in treatment programs that include safe, medically assisted detox and evidence-based treatment programs, with carefully designed meal plans to complement your recovery. Call now to speak with a representative<\/a> about supervised medical detox and if detoxing in a medical facility is the best option for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\nArticle at a Glance:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Why Diet Matters During and After a Drug Detox<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Other FAQs<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
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Nutritional Deficiencies From Drug Use & What Your Body Needs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Detox Food and Dieting Best Practices<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Why Junk Food Won\u2019t Work<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
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It\u2019s Not the Drug Cravings, You\u2019re Just Hungry<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Learn How To Cook a Few Meals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Basics & Sample Meal Plan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Getting Professional Help<\/h2>\n\n\n\n