Importance of nutrition in preventing addiction

Anyone who desires to live a healthy life needs to pay good attention to what they eat. The popular saying “you are what you eat” is largely true because the food you eat plays a pivotal role in the state of your physical and mental health.  

When some people hear of good nutrition, what comes to their mind is “less fat, sugar, salt, etc”. While this is true, it is important to know some of the benefits that nutrition gives to the body, especially when it comes to preventing you from getting addicted.

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Below are some of the perks of good nutrition

It boosts the immune system

Our bodies need the right amount of nutrients to function properly. Without the ideal dose of nutrients, we might find ourselves engaging in habits that can cause addiction in the long run.

Ensure your meal contains all the classes of food, and remember to take lots of water to stay hydrated and energized.

The right dose of energy

If you want to remain strong and healthy, you need to pay more attention to your nutrition. It is vital to mention that our bodies depend on the energy that comes from the food and drinks we take.

These nutrients that provide energy are fats, carbohydrates, and protein. When you eat these foods, they digest slowly, thereby giving room for prolonged energy.

It improves your mood

The type of food you eat also determines your mood. For instance, if you take a diet with a low carbohydrate content, your mood might not be the best. Some studies have shown that taking enough carbohydrates has a positive effect on your mood.

It enhances your physical and mental wellness

Your diet can also have a positive or negative effect on your physical and mental well-being. Studies have revealed that unhealthy diet choices can make you addicted. For instance, with the right diet, you can effectively combat stress, alongside other health measures.

However, if you don’t eat healthily, you might take alternatives like drugs, alcohol, etc, which might adversely affect your health in the long run.

TAKING THE BOLD STEP IN ADDICTION RECOVERY

In addiction recovery, it is rare for you to see an individual who is eager to recover. At the abuse stage, it might be possible but when it is a full-blown addiction, it becomes extremely difficult.

Taking the bold step in addiction recovery implies that you want to be rid of your addiction problem. A good number of times, this decision is fueled by someone who wants them to be sober.

The first thing to consider when taking a bold step in addiction recovery is the fact that, you need to own up to the reality of being addicted. This would help them to enroll in an addiction rehab and begin the process to sobriety.

An addiction counselor also motivates an individual to accept their addiction process. Thereafter, the counselor would ask some questions that the individual is supposed to answer truthfully.

The answer to these questions are needed to form the basis of the counselor’s evaluation. The counselor presents this to the therapist who would use it to create your addiction treatment program.

Addicted individuals need to note that they need to be as plain as possible with the addiction counselor. There is no need being shy with the counselor because he or she is acting from the professional angle. So, by all means necessary, it is best to state things as they are.

During the course of addiction recovery, you will finally discover the root cause of your addiction. Moreso, you will be equipped with life skills that will help you combat addiction anytime the urge comes up.

At the start, it is never easy for an addict to accept their fate of being addicted.

Some of them are aware of this deep down their hearts but they do not have the courage to admit this in the open. So, the best person in this case who would accept them for who they are is the addiction counselor.

The addict might be required to stay within the rehab or come from home. Irrespective of the case, it is still a good shot at sobriety.

TIPS FOR FAMILIES STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION

A family struggling with addiction can be one of the toughest thing to contend with. Not everyone in the family might be addicted but the few ones that are addicted would adversely affect the others.

One of the notable features in a family struggling with addiction is, the love and care dies down and hate begins to creep in.

An addicted family member will not want to see reasons with the rest of the family as regards their addiction.

Usually, the common approach is, families do not offer correction in love, so the addicted individual feels that the whole world is against him or her. So, the addicted family member will seek solace in the arms of fellow addicts.

Bringing an addict back to the sober lane is difficult. Their addiction problem would have reformed their emotions and behaviors, so they would not think the same way as people who are not addicted. The only way to bring them back to normalcy is to be patient and loving with them. 

Families struggling with addiction are advised to contact an addiction counselor. He or she is in the best position to keep everyone calm.

If help is not sought for in a family where addiction thrives, everyone would be at loggerheads every now and then. However, with a counselor, rifts become easier to mend and the family gets back on track progressively.

When the addicted family members are admitted into rehab fully, it is mandatory for the family to keep in touch with him or her. They do not have to attend all sessions with them, but the compulsory one is the family therapy sessions.

An individual who sees that his or her family members are supportive during their addiction treatment, would be grateful and motivated to ensure that they get sober in no time.

During the period of family addiction, it might be difficult for peace to reign, but it is important and instrumental to the eventual recovery of the addicted family member.