Heal Addicitions with These Healthy Foods
We often treat dependence on a drug or alcoholic substance with techniques based around the substance alone. But, did you know you could channel healing to activities such as healthy eating to augment the recovery process?
An addiction strongly affects the brain by reconfiguring its behavioural pattern, and most of the time, essential amino acids are adversely affected. You would heal faster by replenishing your system with healthy doses of amino acid supplements.
Most of the supplements come from everyday food substances and are great with an exercise therapy. You’ll find your urges to indulge thinning out with each intake. Healthy eating doesn’t only help with drug or alcohol sobriety, but also helps with other less popular addictions, including unhealthy eating.
Daniel Gerrard, lead expert at Addiction Helper believes people stand a better chance of recovering fully when they replenish their body with healthy nutrients. “Combining healthy foods with an exercise regimen such as yoga or meditation also help quell chances of a relapse,” he says.
Here are some healthy eating habits that can help recovery:
Get Energy with Complex Carbohydrates
A detox often leaves the body drained and you’ll need to replenish on lost carbs. You can do so via complex carbohydrates. The brain is pure glycolyzer, meaning it absorbs glucose better than sugar for energy. Although the brain is 2% of the body, it provides a total energy of 25%.
To heal properly, one needs at least 120g of carbohydrates per day. Since it only stores limited glucose in the form of glycogen in the liver, it is essential to supply a steady quantity throughout the day. It is also important to ensure there is sufficient energy in the liver during sleep when the brain does most of its healing. Some examples of complex carbohydrates include: oatmeal, pasta, sweet potato and corn.
Supply Your Body with Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Your body will benefit from a regular supply of omega 3 fatty acids for nerve cell repair and maintenance. This comes from foods such as fish oils, nuts, and flaxseed. These essential fatty acids are important for nerve cells because they improve the flexibility of the membrane to absorb more chemical transmitters, also called neurotransmitters.
Fats account for up to 60% of the brain’s dry weight, and the majority of the fat is docosohexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega 3 fatty acid. Another useful function of fats is to hasten the transfer of electrical information by acting as insulation (myelin sheath) for the brain’s wiring system.
Normalize and Replace Neurotransmitters
Stabilise and sustain neurotransmitters with food supplements rich in high quality protein, because they control behaviours by normalising stress, anxiety, depression and fatigue. All neurotransmitters are made from monoamines which are the formative blocks or proteins.
For instance, tryptophan which is an amino acid is converted to serotonin, which keeps you calm and relaxed. High quality proteins provide essential amino acids in the appropriate combinations and amount. Common sources include, lean meat, fish, nuts, and dairy products including soy and beans.
Supplement with Fruit and Vegetables
Don’t take less than nine servings of fruits and vegetables per day. The recuperating brain is vulnerable to oxidative impairment from the oxidation (aerobic burning) of glucose for energy, the oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids, and the oxidation of iron present in the accentuated blood flow. Eating a variety of highly pigmented fruits and vegetables such as carrots, lettuce, green leafy vegetables, cayenne pepper and so on, help neutralize dangerous free radicals (reactive oxidized molecules). They also restore others that have been used up by body functions.
Drink sufficient amounts of water. Replace your daily fluid losses with at least seven glasses or two quarts per day. An additional three and a half glasses are provided via the food you eat, as most of it is water. A drop in your fluid reserves by as little as 2% can impact your brain performance negatively. It is also important to note that excessive water consumption (over 4 quarts) can cause loss of minerals and water toxicity.
Remember, sobriety is an on-going process; a conscious activity which you have to pursue daily. To get the most of these food nutrients, combine your eating habits with a healthy workout routine.