Emotions are the link between nutrition and addiction relapse

Eating is emotional, it is common for people to celebrate with food, turn to food when they are feeling depressed, anxious, fear, stress, arrogance, impatience or feeling other similar emotions. When food is used in combination with emotions, the food choices tend to be poor, including processed foods rich in sugar, harmful fats, dyes, chemicals, gluten, all of these inflammatory foods stimulate the opiate receptors and disrupt the optimal pH levels of the body. 

A common problem in addiction recovery is the substance that one was addicted to is often replaced with food, typically junk foods, this is also known as “transfer addiction.” This leads to increased risk for obesity related diseases like Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. The surges and drops in blood sugars as a result of poor diet resemble the highs and lows of the actual substance that was once used. When overcoming addictions, addressing the root causes of the addiction with a therapist while converting nutrition into a sound program that will allow the body to function, will make a statistically significant impact on the overall success of the addiction and recovery program. Channeling the addictive behaviors into healthy lifestyle strategies like cooking, exercise, meditation, and healthy hobbies with the guidance of your therapist will generate long-term success. 

Recovery from substance abuse also affects the body in other ways, including metabolism (processing energy), organ function, and mental wellbeing. Proper nutrition will help the healing process, repairing damaged tissue. Nutrients supply the body with energy. They provide substances to build and maintain healthy organs and fight off infection.

Nutrition also plays an important role in mood. Research suggests that changes in your diet can alter brain structure both chemically and physiologically, and influence your behavior. Furthermore, the consumption of certain foods has been tied to increased production of key neurotransmitters like serotonin, which improves mood. Keeping mood stable will decrease the risk for cravings and relapse in addiction recovery.

Substance abuse recovery requires a support team of counselors, therapist and numerous other health professionals. In addition to the support team, adhering to a nutrition plan that suppresses opiate receptors reduces inflammation, and supports optimal pH balance which will also decrease the relapse rate. This nutrition plan is low in natural sugar, free of processed sugars, artificial sweeteners, gluten and most dairies. This plan is rich in vegetables, some fruits, quality protein, heart healthy anti-inflammatory fats, and stable alkaline-based water. You can get a free week's worth of menus at www.namedprogram.com.

Suppressing the Opiate Response

Consuming a diet rich in nutrient dense palatable foods is the key to offsetting the negative effects of the opiate receptors. Feeling satisfied after consuming a meal that both appears and tastes pleasant will offset the urge to “want more.” Unfortunately, with all of the preservatives and unhealthy additives we think of palatable (unhealthy foods), reforming this mindset will allow foods to both increase the success of your recovery while allowing you to be healthy and have an optimal functioning metabolism. It is common among anyone who is trying to eat healthy, that the food at first will taste and appear bland due to the reduction in sodium, fat, and sugar, and in most cases calories. Using fresh herbs, spices, fruits, vegetables and healthy fats will improve the overall enjoyment of the foods, leaving one feeling rewarded and satisfied — without craving anything else. Suppressing the opiate response is a valuable key to successfully beating the addiction, and lowering the relapse rate.

In addition, amino acids therapy – consuming foods that are rich in amino acids, will not only help repair and regenerate damaged tissue, it will reduce cravings and help maintain lean muscle mass and proper organ function. Each meal should have an amino acids rich food and if needed, a protein supplement.

Body pH balance and its effects on our body’s ability to overcome addiction

The typical American diet is packed with sugar and processed foods, which throws off your body’s ability to optimize your pH. Although your body naturally has it’s own mechanisms to buffer your pH, many of us are likely living in a state of low-grade acidosis from eating too many low-quality processed, depleted foods. Eating a diet laden with low, nutrient processed foods puts the body in a state of mild, moderate or even severe inflammation. Inflammation can affect our body’s ability to regulate insulin levels resulting in increased cravings for sugary foods. In recovery, sugary food cravings can often be misread as a craving for the once abused substance due to similar hormonal responses of serotonin and opiate receptors. Optimizing our pH through a balanced and pure nutrition and hydration plan will reduce inflammation and help avoid cravings, hormonal imbalances and chances for relapses. Consuming at least 9-11 servings of fruits and vegetables, heart healthy fats, and high quality moderate sized protein servings, along with hydration strategies in the form of high quality stable, alkaline water resources, will have a statistically significant effect on helping patients withdraw from addiction while reducing symptoms.

Dr. Keith Kantor is a leading nutritionist, author, addictions counselor and founder of the NAMED program (Nutrition Addiction Mitigation Eating & Drinking).