The daily choices you make now will influence your level of vitality as you grow older. These choices will also affect your recovery. Likely you already know the choices you need to make with your health and nutrition. However, it’s often easier said than done. Life can get busy, and it may be easier to stop and grab fast food or not eat at all.
The truth is that making small changes in health and nutrition can greatly impact your recovery. This blog post will discuss how a minor change can make a difference. Then we will discuss the resources that The Guest House can offer to meet your goals.
What Role Do Health and Nutrition Play in Recovery?
Health and nutrition play an important role in recovery. The right foods can become a positive feedback loop because ingesting healthy foods makes your body feel its best. When you feel good, you tend to continue to make good choices. Good health and nutrition can also contribute to repairing damaged tissues and helping your body function at its best. Digestive processes have been linked to brain function and the way the body operates overall.
Following a healthy and balanced diet has been shown to significantly increase success at recovering from addiction, as it reduces cravings, improves mental health, and heals damage done by substance abuse. Each nutrient plays an important role in health and nutrition.
People in recovery can see improvement in their moods when they eat balanced diets. This often leads to the mental willpower necessary to conquer daily life.
Why Am I Craving Sugar in Recovery?
There are several links between sugar cravings and illicit substance use. Many people in recovery struggle with the urge to eat carbohydrates and sugar. This is the main reason why weight gain is common during the first stages of recovery. Addictive substances release dopamine throughout the body. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure, rewards, and repeated behaviors.
Sugar triggers the release of dopamine throughout the body as well. The difference is that it is released in much smaller quantities than it is when ingesting addictive substances. Practicing healthy coping skills with health and nutrition can become more difficult due to the body craving this familiar feeling.
As with any change, taking it one step at a time is essential for the body to catch up with the mind. Sometimes it is easy to eat all your troubles away. However, it matters what you are eating. What you choose to eat will affect your health and nutrition status during recovery.
Small Changes Lead to Big Changes
Focusing on your health and nutrition does not mean that you have to change everything all at once. One of the biggest misconceptions about dieting is that you cannot have any of the foods you love. Perhaps you are someone who thinks you need to starve your body. Both of those strategies are unhealthy and they will not increase health and nutrition within your body. Remember that restoring your health is just as important as remaining abstinent.
A nutritious diet can restore vitality and clarity for an overall balance in recovery. When you eat a diet full of whole grains, vegetables, fruits, proteins, and nutrients, you are building a better immune system. This will help to fight anything that may compromise your immune system.
Try one small change each day. You will be amazed at what you can accomplish in your life. After all, you have already eliminated illicit substances from your life. You are capable of making small changes when it comes to health and nutrition.
Healthy Habits to Try
You can always improve your health and nutrition. Try adding small goals to your life that add up to big goals. Below are suggestions to try and improve your health and nutrition in small steps:
- Eat one more vegetable per day.
- Walk for at least 20 minutes every day.
- Eat one more serving of fruit each day.
- Journal your eating habits to reflect on when you are hungry.
- Drink at least eight glasses of water each day.
These are small changes that will lead to improved health and nutrition. Always remember to be kind to yourself and give yourself grace when trying anything new.
How Can The Guest House Help With Health and Nutrition?
Exploring small changes you can make with your health and nutrition leads to better mental clarity and bodily functioning. The Guest House has many programs that support overall health and nutrition in recovery. For example, yoga can help you explore how the breath is connected to body movements. Coupled with the art of meditation, you can calm yourself and find a deep sense of relaxation.
At The Guest House, we provide healthy and nutritious meals daily. It is our goal to ensure you receive the nutrients your body needs while in recovery. We understand the difficulties that recovery presents and will make it possible for you to have all the resources at your fingertips. All it takes is a click of the button to get started. We are here for you during every step of your journey.
Making changes in any part of your recovery can be difficult. Health and nutrition are no different. More often then not, humans tend to associate socializing with food. Plus, no matter where you are, food is often nearby. Recovery is about healing your body from the inside out. Paying attention to what you are putting in your mouth is essential for living a life of health and wellness. At The Guest House, we are aware of how big of an impact food can have on the body. If you or someone you know is struggling with nutrition during recovery, please give us a call at (855) 483-7800. We would love to hear from you.