Nutrition plays a crucial role in attaining long term recovery from cocaine addiction. Prolonged drug abuse led to havoc of nutritional deficiencies and as a result of ingesting harmful substances in the body.
Nutritional therapy is one of the significant parts of correcting the imbalances in the body caused by illegal drug addiction. Drugs harm the nutritional stability of the body in two ways. First, cocaine, a stimulant suppresses the appetite that can result in poor weight and nutritional imbalances. Due to an addict’s lifestyle, they are less likely to consume healthy foods. Addicts only want drugs and nothing more, that can either lead to more calorie intake, but less nutritious food or less calorie intake and less nutritious food in general. Anyone in cocaine addiction recovery should not only be treated with medications and behavioral therapies. Nutritional therapy is an important component in the recovery program because a properly nourished body leads patients to feel better physically and mentally. Scientific researchers suggest that nutritional therapy increases the rate of success in drug recovery. How Nutrition Helps in Drug Recovery? Recovering addicts can benefit well from eating nutritious foods. Proper nutrition is essential to rebuild damaged organs; boost the immune system; and provide the body with energy. One effect of prolonged cocaine addiction is organ damage that is evident in the development of various heart, respiratory or digestive diseases. It is where proper nutrition plays an important role as the body needs to repair itself from the damages done by long-term cocaine abuse. Addicts need special amount of nutrients in order to restore the mind and body. Nutrition can influence one’s mood. Studies showed that changing the diet has the capacity to affect the behavior and alter the chemical and physiological structure of the brain. How Nutrition is Affected by Addiction There are also foods that stimulate the production of the neurotransmitter serotonin that can improve one’s mood. Folic acid, B-complex vitamins and amino acid deficiencies have also shown negative effects on the moods. Intense cocaine addiction can lead to imbalance processing of two significant amino acids tryptophan and tyrosine. These amino acids are crucial for the release of neurotransmitters- norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin that are precursors for mental clarity, emotional stability, and a general state of well-being. As patients struggling with addiction face the withdrawal stage, they experience intense drug cravings that if not addressed well can lead to a relapse. There are scientific evidences that showed that eating high carbohydrates and high protein foods can help patients to have lower cravings. Nutrition and Relapse Proper nutrition has been found a powerful tool to prevent drug relapse. When the body is properly nourished, it leads to a general sense of well-being, preventing them to return to drug use. Some individuals misinterpret hunger for drug cravings. It is the reason why recovering addicts should not feel hungry because it is one of the triggers for a drug relapse. |