Food quality directly influences the way your brain functions.

Nutrition and Recovery

Whenever your body isn’t producing enough of the right nutrients or they are out of balance, you will naturally start to feel irritable and anxious as your serotonin levels fluctuate.

Inside the first year or two of recovery, your nutritional requirements are much higher than normal and thus establishing healthy eating routines is vital to your recovery. Your full body needs to recover, and thus a mindful diet is an important step toward restoring your bodies natural balance with all organs functioning as they are intended.

Natural Serotonin Balance

Specific foods restore the natural ability to produce serotonin which is an important component for restoring your sense of wellbeing and positive moods. Eating foods containing the amino acid known as “tryptophan” enables the body to produce serotonin naturally again. The body does not make tryptophan on its own thus requires dietary inclusion at the standard meal intervals to facilitate natural digestive processes.

Higher intakes of carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates that are found in beans, lentils and peas and root vegetables like carrots will start working toward restoring your natural balance. Foods such as salmon, poultry, eggs, spinach, seeds, milk, soy and nuts are also important to the introduction of tryptophan and restoring natural serotonin levels.

Food To Help With Depression

Other foods shown to have antidepressant benefits include oysters, mussels, other seafood, leafy greens, lettuce, peppers, and cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, and Brussels sprouts. Nutrients like zinc, magnesium and omega-3 fatty acids enhance neuroplasticity helping with the resilience of the mind when under stress.

Food To Help With Recovery After Alcohol

If you or someone you know is trying to get over an addiction to or abuse of alcohol, it’s important to eat well to help the recovery process. Here is a list of the best foods to eat to help:

• High-protein foods: Drinking too much alcohol can hurt the liver and make it hard for the body to break down protein. Eating foods with a lot of protein, like lean meat, fish, eggs, and legumes, can help fix liver damage and speed up the healing process.
• Whole grains: Brown rice, quinoa, and whole-wheat bread are all whole grains. They are full of fibre and nutrients that can help control blood sugar and reduce inflammation in the body.
• Fruits and vegetables: Fruits and vegetables are full of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that can help repair damage caused by alcohol abuse and boost the immune system.
• Nuts and seeds: Nuts and seeds are a good source of protein, fibre, and healthy fats. A handful of nuts or seeds can give you a quick boost of energy and help control your blood sugar.
• Foods that are high in probiotics: Too much alcohol can upset the balance of good bacteria in the gut, which can cause digestive problems and inflammation. Eating foods like yoghurt, kefir, and fermented vegetables that are high in probiotics can help restore the balance of healthy bacteria in the gut.
• Water: It is important to drink a lot of water to help the body get rid of toxins and stay hydrated.
• Herbal teas: Herbal teas like chamomile, ginger, and peppermint can help relax you, calm your stomach, and reduce inflammation.
• Lean proteins: Drinking too much can cause you to lose muscle and become weak. Eating lean proteins like chicken, fish, and tofu can help your muscles grow and heal.
• Healthy fats: Avocados, olive oil, and nuts all have healthy fats that can help improve brain function and reduce inflammation in the body.
• Complex carbs: Foods like sweet potatoes, muesli, and brown rice that are high in complex carbs can give you steady energy and help control your blood sugar levels.

Mindful Of Your Intake

Your intention with your nutrition is to maintain the ecosystem that supports your mind, organs. By neglecting one part of that cycle you will negatively impact the others and the cycle continues. The odd indulgence won’t throw you into a tailspin, but just being aware that the bulk of your food intake is quality foods as outlined below.

The intent behind regimented meal routines, cutting out unhealthy snacks, creating conscious reminders that your new routine must include healthy food (appropriate portions) is simply part of your recovery journey and your self-care.

If you are not the “chef type” fresh food delivery services in South Africa are easy to come by and relatively inexpensive.

• https://www.dailydish.co.za/
• https://ucook.co.za/
• https://theflyingpan.co.za/

Recovery Direct works closely with our catering service called “Raw Catering” to ensure that premium quality meals prepared onsite and that exceed all the criteria we require to optimally help our patients in the early stages of their recovery (and of course be delicious too).

The Healthy Eating Plate Example

The following excerpt is from Harvard University that conducted optimal nutrition research into what constitutes an optimal human diet. They simplified the research into an easy to follow diagram called the “Healthy Eating Plate”.

Many of these principals we have applied to our catering services at Recovery Direct but can be easily replicated and suited to the kinds of foods you enjoy most to make your transition to your healthy eating routines palatable.

If you would like to explore more specific evidence-based diets. Recovery Direct follows the progressions in low-carb, whole-food diets, Mediterranean diets, paleo diets, vegan diets and gluten-free diets applied in the format below depending on a range of factors.

Focus on eating high-quality foods in appropriately sized portions.

Rather than choosing foods based only on caloric value, think instead about choosing high-quality, healthy foods, and minimizing low-quality foods.

• High-quality foods include unrefined, minimally processed foods such as vegetables and fruits, whole grains, healthy fats and healthy sources of protein.

• Lower-quality foods include highly processed snack foods, sugar-sweetened beverages, refined (white) grains, refined sugar, fried foods, foods high in saturated and trans fats, and high-glycemic foods such as potatoes.

There isn’t one “perfect” diet for everyone, owing to individual differences in genes and lifestyle.

The Healthy Eating Plate

Use the Healthy Eating Plate as a guide for creating healthy, balanced meals—whether served on a plate or packed in a lunch box. Put a copy on your refrigerator to serve as a daily reminder!

• Make most of your meal vegetables and fruits – ½ of your plate:

Aim for colour and variety, and remember that potatoes don’t count as vegetables on the Healthy Eating Plate because of their negative impact on blood sugar.

• Go for whole grains – ¼ of your plate:

Whole and intact grains—whole wheat, barley, wheat berries, quinoa, oats, brown rice, and foods made with them, such as whole wheat pasta—have a milder effect on blood sugar and insulin than white bread, white rice, and other refined grains.

• Protein power – ¼ of your plate:

Fish, poultry, beans, and nuts are all healthy, versatile protein sources—they can be mixed into salads, and pair well with vegetables on a plate. Limit red meat, and avoid processed meats such as bacon and sausage.

• Healthy plant oils – in moderation:

Choose healthy vegetable oils like olive, canola, soy, corn, sunflower, peanut, and others, and avoid partially hydrogenated oils, which contain unhealthy trans fats. Remember that low-fat does not mean “healthy.”

• Drink water, coffee, or tea:

Skip sugary drinks, limit milk and dairy products to one to two servings per day, and limit juice to a small glass per day.

• Stay active:

The red figure running across the Healthy Eating Plate’s placemat is a reminder that staying active is also important in weight control.

The type of carbohydrate in the diet is more important than the amount of carbohydrate in the diet because some sources of carbohydrate—like vegetables (other than potatoes), fruits, whole grains, and beans—are healthier than others.

The Healthy Eating Plate also advises consumers to avoid sugary beverages, a major source of calories usually with little nutritional value.

The Healthy Eating Plate encourages consumers to use healthy oils, and it does not set a maximum on the percentage of calories people should get each day from healthy sources of fat. In this way, the Healthy Eating Plate recommends the opposite of the low-fat message promoted for decades across the world.

You can read more here and this article on a healthy life.

Gluten Free Diets

Researchers have investigated the connection between diet and mental health, particularly the impact of gluten on the symptoms of depression. In one study, scientists discovered that adhering to a gluten-free eating plan had a positive effect on the symptoms of depression in people with gluten sensitivity. Gluten is a protein commonly found in wheat, barley, and rye, and it can trigger an immune response in some people, leading to digestive problems and other symptoms. The study found that participants who followed a gluten-free diet reported a significant improvement in their overall well-being, including reduced anxiety, irritability, stress and sadness.

This finding has important implications for the treatment of depression, as it suggests that dietary interventions can play a role in improving mental health outcomes. While the study focused specifically on people with gluten sensitivity, it raises the possibility that other dietary changes could also have a positive impact on mental health. Further research is needed to explore this connection, but the study underscores the importance of considering diet and nutrition as part of a comprehensive approach to treating depression and other mental health conditions.

Here are some of the best ways to reduce gluten in your diet:

1. Choose gluten-free grains: Instead of wheat, barley, and rye, opt for gluten-free grains such as quinoa, rice, corn, millet, and sorghum.
2. Read labels: Be sure to read the ingredient lists on packaged foods carefully to identify sources of gluten. Gluten can be found in unexpected places such as sauces, dressings, and soups.
3. Prepare your own meals: Cooking your own meals using fresh, whole foods is the best way to ensure that you’re not consuming gluten. You can also experiment with gluten-free flours and baking mixes to create your own gluten-free baked goods.
4. Look for gluten-free alternatives: There are many gluten-free alternatives available for foods that traditionally contain gluten, such as bread, pasta, and crackers. These can be found at most grocery stores and health food stores.
5. Choose naturally gluten-free foods: Many whole foods are naturally gluten-free, including fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy products.