An unbalanced diet can cause a number of physical and mental problems. When someone has a substance abuse disorder, they are likely to suffer from malnutrition. Because these individuals focus so much on their addiction, they often forget to eat a healthy diet and drink plenty of water. Through a nutritional counseling program, individuals can get the support they need to recover.

Why Is a Nutritional Counseling Program Important?happy young female doctor talks to older female patient in a nutritional counseling program

This kind of nutritional counseling program is useful for more than just an addiction. With a nutritional therapy program, individuals can also get support for eating disorders like bulimia and anorexia. Like an addiction, these eating disorders can lead to nutrient deficiencies and health problems.

No matter what illness someone has, mental and physical wellbeing requires good nutrition. Getting adequate nutrition and hydration support long-term recovery. Eating healthy can even improve sobriety success rates.

When someone suffers from substance abuse, it harms their overall diet because they focus on drugs instead of eating healthy. Substance abuse also harms the individual by impairing the body’s ability to absorb and use nutrients. As a result, the individual may not have enough vitamins and minerals in their body. This can lead to problems like poor digestion, irritability, and sleep problems.

Many people who have an eating disorder or a substance abuse disorder experience drastic weight changes. When someone’s weight fluctuates, it can lead to body image problems and depression. Ultimately, someone can develop an eating disorder because of these body image problems.

As someone recovers from an addiction, they may also overindulge in food or restrict their eating as a coping mechanism. Because of this, it is important for the nutritional counseling program to provide nutritional education and support. With the right care, individuals can prevent and remedy food-related problems during their treatment.

How Does a Nutritional Therapy Program Work?

Whether someone is at an anorexia nervosa treatment center or a drug rehab, nutritional therapy will be an important part of treatment. Nutritional counseling can help clients manage caffeine and sugar cravings as they recover. It also allows clients to get enough nutrients to repair their liver, brain, kidneys, and other bodily organs.

When someone has a poor diet, they can develop anxiety, decreased mood, or irritability. They can also suffer from dehydration, low blood sugar, or excessive caffeine intake. All of these problems can end up triggering craving and relapse. From the start of treatment, clients need to understand the importance of adequate nutrition and hydration in the treatment process.

Discovering a Better Treatment Program

When someone decides to get treatment, they should look for a treatment center that offers dual diagnosis care. Often, people who have one disorder will also have another disorder at the same time. Individuals who have a substance abuse disorder may have an eating disorder, as well. Since these disorders can trigger each other, it is important to treat both co-occurring illnesses at once.

A nutritional counseling program helps people who have addictions and eating disorders. It helps them begin the delicate work of rebuilding their physical and mental health. With the right care, clients are able to begin their long-term recovery safely.

At a treatment center, clients can find more than just nutritional counseling. They can also discover options such as:

You do not have to suffer from your addiction or mental illness in silence. Through Promises Behavioral Health, you can find the nutritional counseling program and behavioral health services you need to recover. Discover more information about our program by calling us at 844.875.5609 today.