Holistic approaches are part of many recovery programs.
They can help you heal and grow through all stages of recovery.
- Nutrition
Eating a poor diet reinforces cravings for drugs and alcohol and increases the chance of relapse.
Better nutrition can include eating a healthy diet, taking vitamin and herbal supplements, and amino acid therapy. These help heal damage to the brain and body caused by substance use and improve chemical imbalances caused by addiction.
Food For The Brain Foundation
Talks about 4 ways nutrition can support addiction recovery.
Nutrition in Addiction Recovery
Describes how drugs and alcohol disrupt the normal functioning of the body and how better nutrition reduces these unhealthy changes and helps rebalance the body.
Amino Acid Nutrition Therapy
Another nutritional approach for recovery and relapse prevention is the use of amino acids, the building blocks for powerful chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. These brain chemicals, including epinephrine and norepinephrine, GABA, serotonin and dopamine, are closely tied to addictive behavior. Amino acids can help change brain chemistry and restore deficiencies in brain chemicals that spur cravings and lead to relapse.
The chart below was originally published in Counselor Magazine: Blum K, Ross J, Reuben C, Gastelu D, Miller DK. "Nutritional Gene Therapy: Natural Healing in Recovery." Counselor Magazine, January/February, 2001.
Supplemental Ingredient Restored Brain Chemical Addictive Substance Abuse Amino Acid Deficiency Symptoms Expected Behavior Change D-Phenylalanine or DL-Phenylalanine Enkephalins
EndorphinsHeroin, Alcohol, Marijuana, Sweets, Starches, Chocolate, Tobacco Most Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS) conditions sensitive to physical or emotional pain. Crave comfort and pleasure. Desire certain food or drugs. Reward stimulation. Anti-craving. Mild anti-depression. Mild improved energy and focus. D-Phenylalanine promotes pain relief, increases pleasure. L-Phenylalanine or L-Tyrosine Norepinephrine
DopamineCaffeine, Speed, Cocaine, Marijuana, Aspartame, Chocolate, Alcohol, Tobacco, Sweets, Starches Most Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS) conditions. Depression, low energy. Lack of focus and concentration. Attention-deficit disorder. Reward stimulation. Anti-craving. Anti-depression. Increased energy. Improved mental focus. L-Tryptophan or 5 hydroxytryptophan (5HTP) Serotonin Sweets, Alcohol, Starch, Ecstasy, Marijuana, Chocolate, Tobacco Low self-esteem. Obsessive/compulsive behaviors. Irritability or rage. Sleep problems. Afternoon or evening cravings. Negativity. Heat intolerance. Fibromyalgia, SAD (winter blues). Anti-craving. Anti-depression. Anti-insomnia. Improved appetite control. Improvement in all mood and other serotonin deficiency symptoms. GABA (Gamma-amino butyric acid) GABA Valium, Alcohol, Marijuana, Tobacco, Sweets, Starches Feeling of being stressed-out. Nervous. Tense muscles. Trouble relaxing. Promotes calmness. Promotes relaxation. L-Glutamine GABA (mild enhancement)
Fuel source for entire brainSweets, Starches, Alcohol Stress. Mood swings. Hypoglycemia. Anti-craving, anti-stress. Levels blood sugar and mood. GABA (mild enhancement). Fuel source for entire brain. Note: To assist amino-acid nutritional therapy, the use of a multi-vitamin/mineral formula is recommended. Many vitamins and minerals play a role in the formation of neurotransmitters. They also serve to restore general balance, vitality and well-being to people in a state of poor nutritional health.
Research StudiesResearch Studies
Poor nutrition may be one of the underlying factors that make a person vulnerable to addiction. This article presents the growing role of nutrition therapy with an emphasis on gastrointestinal health for the treatment of opioid use disorder. Nutrition should be included as a part of a broad approach to addiction recovery.
Wiss DA. A Biopsychosocial Overview of the Opioid Crisis: Considering Nutrition and Gastrointestinal Health. Front Public Health. 2019 Jul 9;7:193.
Poor nutrition in people with alcohol and substance use disorders strongly affects their physical and emotional health. It adds to anxiety and depression, muscle weakness, hormone imbalances, and cravings for sugar. This can make it harder to resist using alcohol or drugs and to improve health and well-being.
Jeynes KD, Gibson EL. The importance of nutrition in aiding recovery from substance use disorders: A review. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2017 Oct 1;179:229-239.
Many addiction treatments focus on the emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of addiction. Because of this some of the biological aspects can be overlooked such as the close relationship between substance use and poor nutrition.
Grotzkyj‐Giorgi, M. (2009). "Nutrition and addiction — can dietary changes assist with recovery?" Drugs and Alcohol Today, Vol. 9 No. 2, pp. 24-28.
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