Nutrition for Recovery

Healthy nutrition is essential for everyone, particularly those in early recovery. By the time they seek help, many addicted people are malnourished. Family members are spent both emotionally and physically. In their minds, both parties are doing the very best they know how in order to survive one day at a time.  Addiction casts a wide net. One of the first things that goes is self-care: nutrition, sleep, personal hygiene, exercise, meditation.  Food is our fuel. When we offer the body with nutritious food, the body and brain begin to heal immediately. Whole Families Intervention and Services is here to guide and support you in nourishing your body/mind with healthy, life-giving foods.

Addiction Wreaks Havoc on The Body’s Ability to Absorb Nutrients

The following drugs affect the body in the following ways:

• Opiates  can create deficiencies in calcium, vitamins D and B6, and iron.
• Cocaine can create low levels of omega-3 fatty acids.

Alcohol can create more deficiencies than other drugs simply, because alcohol causes the body to excrete larger quantities of nutrients.  Malnutrition resulting from alcoholism can result in physical weakness, insomnia, anxiety, anemia, osteoporosis, and immune deficiencies.

Sugar and Processed Foods Are Like Drugs

Sugar and processed foods raise our serotonin levels, and make us feel good. Until they stop working. As our blood sugar levels begin to drop, we feel irritable, discontent, and fatigued.  Science is now proving that refined sugar and processed foods can have adverse effects on the reward pathways in the brain.

The challenge for many of us is the willingness to shift away from using foods as drugs and then staying on the path toward health and wholeness on our own. It sounds so very simple. But it’s not easy. For some of us, it seems impossible.

We Begin With Fresh, Healthy Foods

No one way of eating fits all. However, there are a few guidelines we suggest. It begins with eating fresh, healthy foods. These colorful, life-giving foods contain all the nutrients and vitamins the body needs for fuel.

Whole Families Is Here to Support You Nourish Your Whole Body

Whole Families Intervention and Holistic Recovery Services is here to support you every step of the way. Many of our clients have experienced a shift in body, mind, and spirit since they nourishing themselves with fresh, healthy foods. They experienced an increase in energy, strength and stamina. They began to think more clearly. Their moods lifted.  When they began using the holistic tools, they began to feel more whole.

We work with individuals everyday to help them boost their energy, reboot their immune system, and rebuild their bodies. We can help you, too.  We are here to support you into a new life, filled with vitality, joy and strength.

Here are a few steps we help you take. We walk beside you at your pace and on your own timing:

Less sugar — Staying away from sweetened foods helps stabilize blood sugar levels. Steady blood sugar levels help with mood swings, anxiety and depression.

Fewer refined carbohydrates — Whole grains, nuts and seeds are fuel for the body.

Adequate protein — Amino acids in proteins serve as building blocks for neurotransmitters, which are often lacking in addicts.

More color —Fruits and vegetables help heal the immune system. The immune system lives in the gut.

More healthy fats— Good fats help the body absorb fat-soluble vitamins. Choose olive oil, flaxseed oil and omega-3s (found in fatty fish, nuts and flax seeds).

Fewer processed foods — Whole foods help heal the liver, which is critical in early sobriety and stress.

Less caffeine — Loads of caffeine can exacerbate insomnia and anxiety, which are especially prevalent in early sobriety.

Healing The Body and The Brain. Recovering Our Health and Wellbeing.

When our blood sugar levels are stable, we experience less nutritional deficiencies, mood swings, depression, and anxiety. All of these lead to stress and can trigger relapse in early recovery.  Healthy nutrition heals both the body and the brain.

With Whole Families Intervention and Services, we begin slowly. Gradually, we begin to squeeze out foods that deplete the body of energy. We guide and support those in early recovery and those connected to the recovering addict so that everyone finds a new sense of strength and freedom.