Mood changes are common in people affected by addiction. These changes can reinforce or worsen the impact of your addiction symptoms. They can also make it more difficult for you to quit using drugs or alcohol. A significant but often overlooked factor in your typical mood is your daily diet. Diet-related changes in your mood can hinder recovery from addiction. That’s why nutritional therapy for addiction recovery is often a vital need.
The connection between nutrition and mood is important for anyone in recovery. However, it can be especially crucial for women.
At Painted Desert Recovery, we’re keenly aware of the potential impact of nutrition on women with substance problems. To meet the needs of those affected by such problems, we offer nutritional therapy for addiction recovery. If you or a loved one are interested in learning more about nutrition and mood, reach out to our Painted Desert Recovery today by filling out our online form or calling 844.540.0357.
What Is the Link Between Nutrition and Mood?
Researchers have long known that nutrition and mood are connected. But why does this connection exist? What you eat has an impact on how your body works. Specifically, it affects the chemical balance of your brain and body. In turn, this balance affects your mood.
One of your most essential mood-related chemicals is serotonin. Your body makes most of its serotonin in your digestive tract. The foods you eat have a significant impact on the production of this chemical. Other internal chemicals that help influence your mood are norepinephrine and dopamine.
What nutrients do you need in order to maintain a stable, healthy mood? The list of the crucial substances includes:
- Vitamins A, B6, B12, and C
- Folate
- Certain omega-3 fatty acids
- Thiamine
- Iron
- Zinc
- Magnesium
- Selenium
What sorts of foods contain these nutrients? Common examples include protein, complex carbohydrates, fruits, and vegetables. A well-balanced diet will help you get sufficient amounts of these foods.
Nutrition in Recovery
Addiction often leads to significant nutritional problems. These problems can be the result of eating a nutrient-poor diet. They can also be triggered by failing to eat regularly. In either case, poor nutrition can promote mood instability. In turn, an unstable mood tends to reinforce the effects of addiction. This symbiotic relationship can add to the difficulty of effective addiction treatment.
Top-quality addiction recovery programs understand the connection between nutrition and mood. They also understand the other harmful effects of poor nutritional status on your recovery. In response, they include nutritional therapy among their treatment options.
The Importance of Women’s Nutrition in Recovery
Women often face nutritional issues not found in men. For example, women have a higher rate of exposure to eating disorders. That’s not only true for anorexia and bulimia. It’s also true for binge eating disorders. Women also must deal with a greater day-to-day focus on their appearance. Even in the absence of an eating disorder, this focus can contribute to a strained relationship with food.
If anything, addiction magnifies these kinds of issues. By addressing women’s nutrition in recovery, proper treatment can help you overcome them. A well-designed nutritional therapy program provides multiple benefits.
Examples of these benefits include:
- Teaching you health-supporting food habits
- Helping you address underlying issues regarding food and eating
- Making you less likely to relapse
- Stabilizing your mood
Seek Nutritional Therapy for Addiction Recovery at Painted Desert Recovery
Painted Desert Recovery is dedicated to helping women in recovery. Not only do we provide direct treatment for your addiction symptoms. We also provide important secondary treatment options. The list of those options includes nutritional therapy. This therapy helps you work through your food-related issues. It also helps you make healthy eating a regular feature of daily life. To learn more about our services, call us today at 844.540.0357, or you can also reach us through our online form.
