Addiction leads to many negative side effects on a person’s body. Substance abuse and the process of detox take a toll on your physical health. Proper nutrition and hydration are necessary for getting through recovery safely and promoting long-term sobriety. At Northpoint Nebraska, we provide a variety of addiction treatment therapies for our clients, including nutrition counseling.
What is Nutrition Counseling?
Nutrition counseling is a process where a trained health professional, usually a registered dietician, helps patients make healthy food decisions and form healthy eating habits. Patients learn to identify what nutrients they lack and how to better incorporate healthy foods into their diet. During nutrition counseling, patients gain a better understanding of the impact of nutrition on their bodies and learn how to alter their behavior in practical ways to reach nutrition goals.
Nutrition Counseling in Addiction Treatment
Addiction negatively impacts nutrition and the body in many ways. Many substances can cause loss of appetite or cause people to forget to eat. In addition, people struggling with addiction are less likely to make healthy eating choices. By the time a person seeks addiction treatment, their physical state is likely to be in poor condition. A healthy body can go through recovery much more safely, which is why nutrition counseling can be helpful during addiction treatment.
Research suggests that proper nutrition is necessary for safe and healthy recovery. Detox and withdrawal symptoms can be intense and severe, and your body needs to be strong enough to endure the symptoms. Without the proper amount of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients in your body, it does not have the proper foundation it needs to heal and recover safely. Addiction treatment is not an easy process, but by including nutrition counseling in addiction treatment, individuals can heal and improve their overall physical and mental health.
Nutrition Therapy in Addiction Recovery
There are many benefits to receiving nutrition therapy in addiction recovery. Poor health can increase temptation and cravings for substances. Receiving nutrition counseling can ensure that a patient is physically and mentally able to go through recovery. Addiction is taxing on the mind and body, but proper nutrition can help start the healing and recovery process.
Some benefits of nutritional therapy in addiction recovery include:
- Correct nutritional deficiencies
- Help balance dopamine levels
- Help control cravings
- Help reduce pain and discomfort during detox
- Improve physical health
- Develop healthy eating habits that can be maintained during and after recovery
It is also important that a patient does not switch one addiction for another after substance abuse treatment. Nutrition therapy during addiction recovery can ensure that patients establish a healthy relationship with food so that they can continue in long-term recovery. Learning about proper nutrition and eating habits can motivate you to eat for health and self-care rather than for emotional reasons or as a substitute for drugs or alcohol.
Northpoint Nebraska: Find Nutrition Counseling in Nebraska
At Northpoint Nebraska, we take a holistic approach to providing treatment for addiction and mental health. This means that we look at tackling addiction or mental health disorders from all angles. This includes treating the mind, body, and soul so that patients can fully heal and enjoy a life of long-term sobriety. We provide our patients with a variety of programs and services that can be tailored to best fit their needs. Our nutrition counseling service helps patients improve their physical health, establish a healthy relationship with food, and learn to take care of their health after treatment.
If you or a loved one is struggling with substance abuse, our team can help. Reach out today at 888.351.3834 to learn more about how our facility can get you the help you need.