How a Healthy Diet Can Aid Recovery

There are many factors that contribute to a successful recovery. However, one of the most important pieces is developing a healthy diet. At Twilight Recovery Center, one of the top focus areas is the physical aspect of treatment. As people begin to understand the physical benefits alongside the mental benefits, better overall recovery is guaranteed.

When People Neglect Their Physical Health

The truth is that many people with substance abuse issues begin exhibiting counter-intuitive behavior. This means that they make decisions based on want instead of need. There are some basic physical needs everyone has:

• Healthy sleep
• Clean water
• Healthy Foods

These are the three most basic needs, and someone with a substance abuse issue may neglect all three.

When a person begins neglecting their physical health, they begin to experience a breakdown of basic functions. For example, a lack of sleep may end up putting them in situations where they are not prepared to handle certain tasks. Add certain substances to the mix, and there is a recipe for disaster.

The same is true for people who do not have access to clean water. With so many different microbes living in contaminated areas, people may exacerbate an already troubled physical balance.

On some level, a person suffering from substance abuse may understand that they require mental health assistance. However, they are in need of physical help as well.

Why a Healthy Diet Is Important

When an individual can make the right dietary choices, they will begin to feel better both mentally and physically. With the right direction, they will be able to self-regulate, learn to cook for themselves, and feel confident in their choices.

One thing to note is that “diet” does not refer to weight loss. It simply means the type of food that a person is ingesting. This may mean weight loss for some people. However, others will experience much-needed weight gain.

The goal is to create an environment where a person understands that a healthy body can be just as important as a healthy mind. When one cleanses the toxins from their body, they will find they have a clearer mind. Upon beginning to feel physically better, people will have a level of clarity they may not have felt for quite some time.

How to Choose the Right Foods

The idea of a healthy diet has existed for hundreds of years. However, as we have gained a better understanding of food and its effects, we have also begun to look at what constitutes the “best” diets.

What has been found is that there are many different ways to look at healthy diets. Much like the care provided to people in recovery, diets must be individualized in order to work successfully. Each person has their own wants and needs. However, there are four guidelines that the National Institutes of Health recommend people follow for healthy living.

• Follow a healthy eating pattern throughout life
• Focus on variety, nutrient density, and amount
• Limit calories from added sugars and saturated fats and reduce sodium intake
• Shift to healthier food and beverage choices

These may seem like simple concepts, but to some people, they can be quite difficult. Consider the space that people with substance abuse issues may find themselves in prior to treatment:

• Living in a food desert
• Unable to pay for better-quality foods
• Reliance on the convenience of fast food
• Unsure of how to receive benefits such as SNAP
• Inability to leave the house due to mental or physical fatigue
• Embarrassment at extreme weight loss/weight gain

These are all reasons why someone may not have been able to follow a better dietary path.

How Twilight Recovery Can Assist With Managing a Post-treatment Healthy Diet

When a person spends time as a resident at Twilight Recovery Center, the individual assessment will spotlight their various needs. One of these will be their dietary wants and needs. With individualized, chef-inspired meals, residents will begin to realize what constitutes healthy eating.

Part of the luxury program involves understanding healthy meal preparation. It also discusses the variety of ways that people can take charge of their eating habits to create a more healthy environment for themselves.

Thanks to this portion of the program, when residents are ready to continue their recovery post-rehab, they will be well-equipped. This means being able to take part in healthy activities and coupling those activities with a diet that is beneficial but not constrained. The goal is to start great habits during rehab so that they are not brand new when a person starts the next phase of their recovery.

For those who remain fearful about whether treatment will force them into a specific mold, it is important to remember the mantra that each person is an individual, and each individual deserves to be themselves. Twilight Recovery Center is built on this concept and believes it applies to all areas of a person’s life, including their dietary habits, both in treatment and throughout their ongoing recovery.