Why is Proper Nutrition so Important for Recovering Addicts?

At the most basic level, substance abuse is associated with both primary and secondary malnutrition. Primary malnourishment occurs when the substance reduces or displaces food intake. Secondary malnutrition occurs when there are alterations in the absorption, metabolism, utilization, and excretion of nutrients due to compromised oral, gastrointestinal, circulatory, metabolic, and neurological health. An example is thiamine deficiency common in alcoholics, which is both primary and secondary.

Other primary goals of nutrition therapy for addiction recovery includes: healing the gut function, disrupting the potential for cross-addiction into food, recovering compromised neurological function, and stabilizing the endocrine system (hormones). Other goals can include achieving a healthy body weight and avoiding excessive and persistent weight gain, although concerns about weight should be secondary to concerns about overall health. Individuals with a history of addiction are at higher risk for developing disordered eating behavior (and vice versa), therefore it is important that nutrition behavior be monitored by a qualified professional such as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist specializing in behavioral health.

For more info, visit Nutrition In Recovery