Substance use disorders (SUDs) take a toll on all body systems. Recovery challenges the body in other ways. A healthy body is important for a successful recovery for many reasons, ranging from helping reduce cravings to strengthening the body systems compromised by addiction. Nutrition is one of the pillars of overall health. The foundation of healing and recovery is strong when you have the proper balance of minerals, vitamins, proteins, fats, and carbs. At Painted Desert Recovery, our nutrition therapy program is an important part of our clients’ overall treatment plan.
What is nutrition therapy? Find out by calling Painted Desert Recovery at 844.540.0357 or using our online form to reach out. We can answer that question and any others you have about addiction treatment, recovery, women’s rehab, and more. And if you are wondering, “Does nutrition therapy work?” It does, and we can tell you why.
What Is Nutrition Therapy?
Nutrition therapy and counseling include education about nutrition and how it affects recovery. Providing nutrition therapy in rehab is considered the best practice due to the improved long-term outcomes for those in recovery.
You will find there are many nutrition therapy benefits when you engage in a program that focuses on:
- Stabilizing mood
- Reducing stress
- Healing the body
- Replacing nutrients depleted by addiction
- Promoting self-care habits
- Mitigating cravings
- Addressing co-occurring physical conditions that underlie or are caused by a SUD
Nutrition therapy helps you establish healthy habits for a lifetime of wellness and recovery. When you look for an addiction treatment program or facility, remember to ask if they provide nutrition counseling, therapy, and support. At Painted Desert, our nutrition therapy program is essential to our overall treatment protocol. Call 844.540.0357 to find out more.
Does Nutrition Therapy Work?
Addiction has created a deficit of nutrients in your body. We know that because it is one of the many examples of collateral damage caused by a SUD. The building blocks of healing and recovery are not just psychotherapeutic – they are physical as well. The vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that create health and vitality must be returned to you through healthy nutrition.
One of the most significant reasons why nutrition therapy programs are effective has to do with righting the system within the brain that is most damaged by addiction. We know that the natural production of neurotransmitters – especially dopamine – is sidelined by heavy drug or alcohol use. The brain no longer produces them because it becomes dependent on drugs or alcohol to provide that dopamine rush. The brain’s receptors become overloaded; the entire system is offline after years of addiction.
An important part of recovery is returning to a state of balance in which the brain regains its ability to produce and respond to naturally occurring feel-good chemicals. So it is no longer dependent on drugs or alcohol to provide feelings of happiness, satisfaction, or contentment.
Poor eating habits and nutrient deficiencies only exacerbate the poor functioning of the dopamine system. Good nutrition is critical to rebalancing that system. The amino acids that play a vital role in the brain’s dopamine production and other vital chemicals are depleted, along with many other nutrients, during addiction.
Nutrition therapy is effective because it balances so many of the systems within the body and brain that are vital for health and a feeling of well-being.
Painted Desert Recovery’s Nutrition Therapy Program
Nutrition therapy benefits you throughout your recovery. It is an important step in ensuring a lasting recovery that helps you thrive and feel strong post-rehab. Medical research confirms that proper nutrition is vital to the healing of any kind. Addiction recovery is the healing of the body, mind, and spirit. Why not give yourself the best chance of success by starting at a cellular level with top-notch nutrition?
Let Painted Desert Recovery help you find lasting recovery in a safe setting. Learn more about our evidence-based therapies, experiential treatments, and innovative approaches to lasting recovery. Call today at 844.540.0357 or complete this online form to connect with one of our staff.
