One of the things you may learn in your nutrition therapy program is the relationship between certain foods and sobriety. While some foods can reinforce your diet regimen and recovery efforts, other foods can harm your sobriety. Foods that are high in sugars, additives, caffeine, and refined fats can trigger an imbalance in your brain function, lower your energy, and increase your weight.
While nutrition is not the focus of recovery, living a healthy lifestyle gives you an overall sense of wellness. It can also boost your energy and motivation to get clean and stay clean. Nutrition is also a key element in restoring your mind and body. When you eat foods for sobriety, you are more likely to live right. To learn more, please reach out to Serenity House Detox & Recovery Florida today at 866.294.5306.
6 Foods That Can Harm Your Sobriety
1. Fats
Part of your addiction treatment plan includes holistic therapies such as nutrition and fitness. If you need to lose weight, you can start by eating foods low in fat. Fats to avoid include hydrogenated and refined fats. You typically find these types of fats in refined oils, shortening, and butter. Fats are bad for the heart, immune system, and metabolism. They can derail your effort to lose weight.
2. Caffeine
Achieving sobriety involves staying away from substances that can harm your central nervous system. While caffeine may not be as harmful as opioids, cocaine, alcohol, or heroin, it can still supercharge your nervous system. Too much caffeine can trigger anxiety or insomnia, which leaves you vulnerable to relapse. If you must drink coffee or carbonated beverages, then choose caffeine-free products. Try to eliminate caffeine from your diet.
3. Additives and Preservatives
Additives and preservatives are not technically foods, which is why they are a problem. Additives can cause an array such as:
- Disrupts digestions
- Overworks the liver
- Disrupts the immune system
- Causes anxiety and hyperactivity
- Causes heart problems
4. White Flour
The body’s reaction to white flour is the same as processed or refined sugars or fats. Meaning, your body does not break down white flour well. Regular white flour consumption can lead to bad cholesterol, mood swings, obesity, high blood pressure, and fatty liver. If you want bread in your diet, then choose whole grains over white flour.
5. Sugar
If you are in recovery at a drug and alcohol detox center, do not be surprised if you find yourself craving sugar. Alcohol addiction often leads to low blood sugar. If you are trying to achieve sobriety, your body will naturally crave sugar to restore your blood sugar level. However, refined sugars are not among the recommended foods for sobriety. There is no nutritional value in refined sugar. It can also deplete your body of much-needed vitamins and minerals.
6. Junk Food
Junk food is an umbrella term for foods that are gratifying but have no place in helping sobriety. Junk foods have contributed to your addiction by fueling more bad habits. Some of the unhealthiest foods in existence include:
- Fruit juices
- Sweetened breakfast cereals
- Pastries, cakes, and cookies
- Potato chips and French fries
- Ice cream
- Fast foods
- Highly processed foods
You may also want to note that the occasional snack is not only acceptable but encouraged. After all, you should be able to reward your sobriety with junk food from time to time. However, these types of foods should never be a staple in your diet. Trashing your body with junk foods regularly can only lead to relapse.
Get Help for Addiction at Serenity House Detox & Recovery Florida
Are you ready to end your addiction to drugs or alcohol? If so, contact Serenity House Detox & Recovery Florida at 866.294.5306, or contact us online. We offer a wide range of treatments as a part of our addiction rehab program in Florida. Learn more about how the right foods can be instrumental in helping your sobriety. Call us today to find out how our treatment programs are helping sobriety.
