• It’s a Cookbook
    It’s a Philosophy
    It’s a Resource
logologologologo
  • FoodTrients 101 –
  • News –
      • Age Gracefully with Grace O
      • Ginger Hultin, Nutrition
      • Mark Rosenberg, MD
      • Robert Tostado, MD
      • Anti-Aging –
      • Beauty –
      • Food –
      • Health –
      • Exercise –
      • Celiac –
      • Life Extension
      • Books We Love –
      • FoodTrients Guides –
      • Newsletter –
      • capsule full of good foodAre Supplements Safe for You?
      • woman doing yogaSecrets of the Lymphatic System
      • woman fanning herselfWomen, Food, and Hormones: A Plan
      • "collagen" written on a chalkboardSave Your Eyes with Collagen
  • Recipes –
    • SEARCH BY:

      • Category:

      • Starters –
      • Soups –
      • Salads –
      • Main Dishes –
      • Sides –
      • Desserts –
      • Drinks –
      • Extras –
      • Spice Mixes –
      • All Recipes –
      • Or Search By:

      • Anti-inflammatory –
      • Antioxidant –
      • Beauty –
      • Detox –
      • Disease Prevention –
      • Gut Health –
      • Immunity Booster –
      • Mind –
      • Strength –
      • exotic fruit and granolaExotic Fruit Salad with Granola
      • chocolate mousseDark Chocolate Mousse
      • Green Tea NoodlesGreen Tea Noodles with Edamame
      • buffalo meat slidersTry Buffalo Sliders with Sweetened Cranberries
  • Resources –
  • About –
  • Shop –
  • Media –
  • Home Page
  • News
    • Age Gracefully
    • Anti-Aging
    • Beauty
    • Food
    • Ginger Hultin, MS RDN CSO
    • Health
    • Newsletter
  • Recipes
    • Starters
    • Soups
    • Salads
    • Main Dishes
    • Sides
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
    • Extras
    • Spice Mixes
  • Resources
    • Anti-Aging Resources
    • Health
    • Eating Well
    • Books We Love
  • About
    • About Grace O
    • Experts and Advisors
    • Contact Us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Pinterest
  • Shop
  • Media
    • In the Media
    • Press Releases
    • Videos
            No results See all results
            ✕
                      No results See all results

                      Nutrition and Addiction

                      Published by Life Extension

                      Colorful candy gum

                      Many of the most widely used treatment interventions for addiction engage with the psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions of the problem. It is absolutely important to address all of the aspects that contribute to health, and when it comes to physical, mental, and emotional wellness nutrition is one of the most important pieces of the puzzle.

                      It is increasingly being recognized that there is a close, exacerbating relationship between problematic substance use and poor nutrition.

                      Addiction destroys the body’s ability to absorb essential nutrients. Drug and alcohol abuse can cause nutritional deficiencies and issues with digestion. Users often have depleted levels of vitamins, minerals, and essential amino acids and fats, which can lead to several mental and physical problems. The stomach, liver, intestines, and pancreas and brain all suffer from the effects of alcohol and drug use. Damage to the lining of the gut and liver causes impaired ability to digest and absorb nutrients, and remove toxic compounds from the body. A healthy gut means a healthy brain.

                      A recent study on the effects of poor nutrition on recovery summarizes: “The gut’s job is to extract nutrients from digested food, such as the amino acids from proteins to make neurotransmitters. Vitamins and minerals are needed to make them work properly, so having a healthy gut is key to getting the brain working properly. Addictive substances, mainly alcohol, caffeine, painkillers, and heroin, can damage or even shut down the digestive processes, preventing the brain from being nourished properly.

                      Conversely, a well-nourished brain means fewer withdrawal symptoms during the early stages of detoxification and higher possibility of achieving long-term recovery.”

                      Given perfect health, recovery would still be a challenge. With the added obstacles that come from malnutrition it is next to impossible to have lasting success. For those struggling with drug and alcohol dependence good nutrition and whole food supplementation can supply the body with the vital nutrients needed to get through the most difficult stages of recovery.

                      Long term success is also greatly improved as healthy new habits are formed. In fact, this approach is becoming so successful that many addiction treatment facilities now have nutritionists on staff. Patients are supplied with healthy, whole food nutrition plans, and educated on the importance of nutrition for long term health. It is no surprise that outcomes are better when we look at the whole picture.

                      Adding healthy eating and targeted supplementation to treatment makes a world of difference. With improved digestion and absorption comes balanced and stabilized moods, and balanced brain chemistry. With this approach, we can create a recipe for success.

                      Share
                      Life Extension
                      Life Extension
                      LIFE EXTENSION The Life Extension Health News team delivers accurate information about vitamins, nutrition and aging. Our stories rely on multiple, authoritative sources and experts. We keep our content accurate and trustworthy, by submitting it to a medical reviewer. Life Extensionists are people who believe in taking advantage of documented scientific therapies to help maintain optimal health and slow aging. The medical literature contains thousands of references on the use of antioxidant vitamins, weight loss supplements, and hormones that have been shown to improve the quality and quantity of life. Life Extensionists attempt to take advantage of this scientific information to enhance their changes of living longer in good health. This article is posted by permission of Life Extension.

                      Sign Up to get our
                      NEWSLETTER FREE

                      Select list(s) to subscribe to


                      By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: FoodTrients, 14011 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA, 91423, http://www.foodtrients.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact

                      Latest Articles

                      • buffalo meat sliders0
                        Try Buffalo Sliders with Sweetened Cranberries
                        January 30, 2023
                      • 0
                        We’re Just Wild About Saffron
                        January 30, 2023
                      • Baobab squares
                        Baobab Butter Squares
                        January 30, 2023
                      • It’s Citrus Season and the Squeeze Is On!
                        January 30, 2023
                      • 5 Yoga Poses to Relieve Stress & Tension
                        January 30, 2023

                      SEE MORE

                      ABOUT

                      • Grace O
                      • Our Experts
                      • FoodTrients
                      • Board of Advisors
                      • FAQs

                      EXPLORE

                      • Age Gracefully by Grace O
                      • News
                      • Recipes
                      • Our Guides
                      • Resources
                      • Shop
                      • Media

                      CONNECT

                      • Contact Us
                      • Subscribe
                      • Facebook
                      • Pinterest
                      • Instagram
                      • Twitter
                      • YouTube

                      SIGN UP for our NEWSLETTER

                      Nourish your week! Get the latest wellness news and delicious recipes to help you age better.

                      Select list(s) to subscribe to


                      By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: FoodTrients, 14011 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA, 91423, http://www.foodtrients.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact

                      FoodTrients Trademark™ and copyright © 2011-2022 Triple G Enterprises. I Terms and Conditions I Privacy

                      This website is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. FoodTrients – A Recipe for Aging Beautifully Grace O, author and creator of FoodTrients® -- a philosophy, a cookbook and a resource -- has a new cookbook dedicated to age-defying and delicious recipes, The Age Beautifully Cookbook: Easy and Exotic Longevity Secrets from Around the World, which provides one hundred-plus recipes that promote health and well-being. The recipes are built on foundations of modern scientific research and ancient knowledge of medicinal herbs and natural ingredients from around the world. Since the publication of her first anti-aging book, The Age GRACEfully Cookbook, Grace O has identified eight categories of FoodTrients benefits (Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, Immune Booster, Disease Prevention, Beauty, Strength, Mind, and Weight Loss) that are essential to fighting aging, which show how specific foods, herbs, and spices in the recipes help keep skin looking younger, prevent the diseases of aging, and increase energy and vitality. Grace O combines more exotic ingredients that add age-fighting benefits to familiar recipe favorites.

                                No results See all results