Nutrition and Addiction

Food might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about recovery, but it’s an important aspect. What you eat can make a huge difference in how you feel, both in your body and mind. Some meals hit the spot and leave you feeling good for hours, while others are more like a quick sugar rush that crashes just as fast. During rehab, the right food can give your body the strength to heal and help your emotions stay steady. Let’s dig into why nutrition is such an important part of addiction recovery.

Apple fruite in doctor table

What do we mean by nutrition?

Nutrition isn’t just about what’s on your plate; it’s about how you care for your body as a whole. The World Health Organization calls nutrition “a critical part of health and development” and they’re right.

Good nutrition helps keep your immune system strong, protects you from getting sick and gives your body the tools it needs to heal and thrive. It’s like giving your body the fuel to stay safe and strong every day.

Key ways to achieve good nutrition

The NHS says that most people in the UK eat too many calories but don’t get enough of the good stuff. Instead, we often load up on sugar, salt and fat, which can leave us feeling sluggish, craving more junk, and even dealing with issues like obesity and high blood pressure.

When your diet isn’t balanced, it’s like running on empty, and that’s when things like coffee, cigarettes, drugs or alcohol can feel like a quick fix to get through the day. But in the long run, they only make things harder and can often lead to addiction.

Eating well isn’t just about how much food you have on your plate – it’s about what’s on it, too. A balanced diet means mixing everything your body needs to stay strong and healthy. This includes:

  • Proteins to build and repair your muscles.
  • Carbs for energy.
  • Fibre to keep your digestion happy.
  • Healthy fats.
  • Fruit and veggies for vitamins and that feel-good glow.
  • Dairy for strong bones.

Nutrition for addiction recovery at Liberty House

At Liberty House, we believe that good nutrition is crucial in complementing our rehab therapies. We have a private chef and nutritionist who work together to create meals that not only taste amazing but are packed with the nutrients your body needs to heal. Every dish is carefully planned to support your recovery, boost your energy and keep you feeling good as you take on the challenges of rehab.

Just having a regular mealtime schedule is very important for those in recovery. It helps to establish better routines, which are often missing in people struggling with addiction. You will be sharing your meals with everyone else in rehab. This is a great way to create a community spirit and make you feel comfortable to open up in front of each other in group therapy.

We will also help teach you the fundamentals of good nutrition. This can set you up for cooking your own healthy meals at home to keep you fuelled and feeling good post-rehab.

The link between addiction and poor nutrition

When you are dealing with addiction, eating well often gets pushed to the side. Maybe you skip meals or grab whatever’s quickest because your focus is on getting more drugs or alcohol or doing things like gambling or gaming. You may even be spending so much money on feeding your addiction that you can’t afford healthy food or even enough food.

Addiction can also take a toll on how your body processes the food you eat. Substances like alcohol, stimulants or opioids and even the stress of behavioural addiction can mess with your appetite, your digestion and how your body absorbs important nutrients. Without the vitamins and minerals your body needs, you are then left running on empty and relying on more substances to function.

Eating disorders and addiction also show up together regularly, with many people experiencing both at the same time. This includes:

  • 1 in 4 people with anorexia 
  • 1 in 3 people with bulimia 
  • 1 in 4 people with binge eating disorder 

The reasons for this are complex and unique to each person. Someone with an eating disorder might turn to substances to escape feelings of guilt, stress or shame, while addiction might make eating patterns worse. Whatever the reason, when these two issues mix, they can make each other even harder to deal with.

healthy eating person eating healthy foods

Nutrition’s role in addiction treatment

Addiction experts have long recognised the importance of nutrition in addiction recovery. Good nutrition helps with the healing process and gives you the energy you need to work through the tough challenges of rehab treatment.

Here is the role of nutrition in addiction recovery:

Physical healing and restoration
Good nutrition helps fix some of the damage substance abuse leaves behind. It gives your body what it needs to heal, repairs damage to tissues and organs and gives your immune system a much-needed boost.
Improved mental health
The food you eat can also support your mental health. Meals rich in vitamins, minerals and omega-3s – like fish, nuts and leafy greens – give your brain the nutrients it needs to stay balanced and calm. This can make it easier to handle stress and emotions during recovery.
Easier withdrawal process
This is another underappreciated aspect of alcohol and drug addiction recovery and nutrition. A balanced diet and lots of water give your system the fuel it needs to flush out toxins more efficiently, which can mean a shorter detox and less intense withdrawal symptoms.
Reduced cravings
A reduction in cravings is also an important part of overcoming drug addiction through nutrition. Whole foods, fresh veggies, lean proteins and complex carbs help keep your energy steady and stabilise your blood sugar, often making cravings more manageable.
Reduced stress
What you eat can also significantly affect how your body handles stress. Certain foods, like nuts, seeds or even a bit of dark chocolate, have magnesium, which helps your body feel less tense. Whole grains and greens have B vitamins that help you stay calm under pressure. With the right food, you can feel more resilient and less tempted to lean on substances when life gets overwhelming.

Why it is worth continuing to optimise nutrition after treatment

If your good eating habits end when you leave rehab, you can make everything feel harder than it needs to be. Poor nutrition can increase your cravings, make emotions harder to handle and slow down your healing. If you start putting on weight, it can affect your self-esteem, which often receives a boost during rehab. Most worryingly, perhaps, your mental health can also take a major hit, and this is a common route to relapse.

That is why learning to eat well and bringing those lessons into your everyday life is so important. Good nutrition gives your body and mind what they need to work at their optimum levels so you can live a happy, healthy, sober life.

Find out more about nutrition and addiction recovery

Want to know more about the role of nutrition in addiction recovery? Get in touch with Liberty House today. Our friendly team is here to answer your questions, explain how nutrition fits into our rehab programmes and talk you through the treatments we offer. Whether you’re just starting out or looking for extra support with healthy eating, Liberty House can help!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the role of gut health in addiction recovery?
Your gut is like the control centre for a lot of what goes on in your body. Inside your gut are trillions of tiny bacteria that keep things running smoothly, such as your energy levels, mood, and digestion. Addiction can throw this balanced way off, leaving you feeling sluggish and stressed. During recovery, eating gut-friendly foods like yoghurt, bananas, and oats can help you feel calmer and more focused, which is a big help when you’re working on staying sober.
Are there specific foods or dietary patterns that may worsen addiction cravings?
Yes, some foods can mess with your recovery. Sugary treats might feel good in the moment, but they can leave you feeling cranky when the sugar crash hits, and this can bring on cravings. Greasy or processed foods don’t help either, as they can drag down your energy and mood, which can leave you craving drugs or alcohol as a pick-me-up.
How does the timing of meals affect addiction recovery?
“When” you eat matters just as much as “what” you eat. Skipping meals or eating at odd hours can cause mood dips and energy crashes and make cravings harder to resist. Eating at regular times for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks keeps your body fuelled and your head clearer. It is also a great way to build a steady routine, which is vital in recovery.

(Click here to see works cited)

  • NHS. “Eating a balanced diet.” NHS, https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/how-to-eat-a-balanced-diet/eating-a-balanced-diet/. Accessed 20 December 2024.
  • Rittenhouse, Margot. “Eating Disorders & Substance Use | Co-Occurring.” Eating Disorder Hope, 18 August 2021, https://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/treatment-for-eating-disorders/co-occurring-dual-diagnosis/alcohol-substance-abuse. Accessed 20 December 2024.
  • UK Rehab. “Nutrition and Addiction | Rehab Therapies and Models.” UK Rehab, https://www.uk-rehab.com/rehab-therapies/nutrition-and-addiction/. Accessed 20 December 2024.
  • World Health Organization (WHO). “Nutrition – Health topics.” World Health Organization (WHO), https://www.who.int/health-topics/nutrition#tab=tab_1. Accessed 20 December 2024.