Healthy Diet, Sound Mind: Nutrition and Recovery

You’ve probably heard the expression “you are what you eat.” Well, that old expression may have taken on a new dimension, as researchers increasingly emphasize the link between nutrition and better brain function. With today’s emphasis on physical health and fitness, most of us now keenly recognize the strong correlation between a healthy diet and physical wellness. We’ve learned that certain foods can keep diabetes at bay, help maintain a beneficial weight, reduce inflammation and fatigue, and even stave off illness. But recent research, and a formal statement issued by experts at the International Society for Nutritional Psychiatry Research, now suggest a definitive relationship between healthy food choices and improved mental health. The consensus statement, which was the culmination of years of research and represents the collective views of experts in the field, suggests that positive dietary changes should be treated as a key measure to boost cognitive function and reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders. Researchers at the University of Melbourne and Deakin University in Australia who helped spearhead the statement of findings indicate that unhealthy, processed foods are all around us, are heavily promoted by the food industry, and can have profound negative health effects as well as addictive properties. The statement went on to urge individuals and those in the medical and nutritional fields to make natural, whole foods – including those high in omega 3 fatty acids, key proteins, and amino acids, and beneficial vitamins and minerals like A, D, and zinc so often found in fruits and vegetables – a  priority in helping achieve optimal health. This news is important for all of us, but especially those in recovery. 

Quite often, addicts and alcoholics did not eat well while abusing substances, neglecting to eat the proper amounts and types of food. Negative lifestyle choices carried over to their eating habits and nutritional intake. As such, in recovery, many are making up for significant deficiencies in vitamins, minerals, and nutrients critical to rebuilding their physical health and resilience. Equally important, critical neurotransmitters – the “chemical messengers” that allow signals to effectively pass across brain synapses, or pathways – may be diminished or compromised as the brain comes off of drugs and alcohol. Particularly in the early stages of recovery, many physiological and neurological adjustments are taking place and it is crucial to have proper nutrition habits in place to rebuild neurological pathways and balance mood.  

A diet that is high in foundational proteins yields amino acids that help to build neurotransmitters and restore balance and natural mood enhancers. BTG has long made a healthy diet, nutritional education, and amino acid therapy a central part of its programming because we have seen first-hand that diets rich in key vitamins and amino acids not only promote better mental function, focus, and acuity, they prevent depression and low mood which – if unchecked – often lead to drug-seeking and relapse behavior.

Good News We Can Use Our diet today is significantly different from that of our ancestors. We can cite busy schedules, food marketing, and the affordability of processed foods, but most of us can make healthy changes to improve our brains through our gut like increasing our intake of fruits and vegetables, limiting boxed, processed foods, and cooking meals from scratch. It’s important to note that nutrition is a key ingredient to sound mental health, but it’s just one piece of the puzzle and is not a substitute for other forms of treatment.

If you struggling with symptoms of a mental health disorder or do not feel well consistently and wonder what may be wrong, it’s always a good idea to talk to your family doctor or mental health professional.