When you think about drug or alcohol detoxes, the first step of getting clean is quitting the toxic substance. But that’s only the beginning of the journey…
A vital part of the detox process is to replace lost nutrients. A healthy diet can actually make it easier to avoid relapses and recover faster.
In fact, according to studies if people stop following their recovery treatment plan, which
includes a good diet, they are more likely to relapse.
Read on to find out the 5 best foods for detox which can help in reversing the damage caused. Let’s go!
Nutritional Deficiencies
Depending on the specific substance that was abused will determine what kind of damage you’ve caused to your body.
Alcohol addiction often leads to a lack of vitamin B6, vitamin B1, vitamin C, folic acid, calcium, and iron. Food high in these vitamins and minerals are essential foods for detox.
Opiates such as heroin, morphine, and benzodiazepine addiction often lead to digestive issues such as constipation, nausea, and vomiting. High fiber foods are key to getting the digestive system back on track.
Stimulants such as methamphetamine and cocaine can give highs that reduce your appetite and destroy your regular sleeping patterns. As your body will be extremely dehydrated, you will need a lot of water, fruits, and vegetables on your detox food list.
Best Foods for Detox
Building up what you lost during the time of addiction is crucial to making your journey to recovery a success. These next 5 tips will help you to know exactly what to eat when detoxing:
1. Get Your H2O
Both alcohol and drugs are notorious for dehydrating the body. To function well your body needs A LOT of water.
Avoid sugary beverages such as soda and store-bought fruit juice. Stick to plain old water or electrolyte-packed drinks. Buy a juicer to create healthy smoothie blends of fruits and vegetables.
2. Protein is Key
Protein plays a key role in building up a healthy body. The protein is broken down into amino acids which can repair damaged cells in your body, which makes protein essential to beating that addiction.
Protein-rich foods to eat when detoxing include tuna, eggs, chicken, and turkey, which are full of vitamin B6. Red meat helps with iron levels. And plant-based proteins such as lentils, tofu, chickpeas, quinoa, and black beans can also assist with your daily protein intake.
3. Strong Bones
Milk, cheese, butter, yogurts, and fish (such as salmon) are all full of calcium and should be on your detox food list. Milk, cheese, yogurts, and butter also contain vitamin A, vitamin B2 that promote digestive health.
4. Eat those Carbs
Everybody loves carbs, right? Complex carbohydrates such as rice, beans, bread, and potatoes all contain fiber which can boost your energy and aid in digestion.
Whole grain options are always the better choice!
5. Your 5-a-Day
Aim for 5 to 10 servings of veggies each day. Dark green, leafy vegetables are the good detox foods as they are jam-packed full of nutrients, such as vitamin B6, folic acid and beta-carotene.
Spinach, romaine lettuce, kale, bell peppers, and celery are all great foods for detox. Brightly colored fruits such as strawberries, papayas, apples, mangoes, pineapple, and oranges can give you a good old boost of much-needed vitamin-C too.
Detox Your Life and Start Winning!
If you stick to regular mealtimes and be sure to include these 5 best foods for detox, you may recover faster than you thought AND avoid relapses in the meantime.
