Nutrition and Addiction

We have all heard of gut feelings.’ That strong, knee-jerk emotional reaction to a specific event. A gut feeling is a hunch, a sudden intuition. We have perhaps also come across advertising of specific foods designed to promote a ‘happy gut.’ Our language and culture infuse the connection between eating and mental health. There is a scientific basis for this: 90% of the serotonin in our bodies is synthesised in the gastrointestinal tract. There is a sense, then, that our emotional and nutritional wellbeing are inherently linked. Our gastronomic and psychological lives are intertwined. Some foods comfort us for a short period, whilst others make us feel ‘good’ for a longer period. But why is this the case? Why is our mental health so caught up in our consumption, and how can we harness this to boost our wellbeing during addiction recovery?

What do we mean by ‘Good Nutrition?’

The World Health Organization defines nutrition as ‘a critical part of health and development.’ Nutrition is about much more than what we choose to eat each day. It is about how we feed and nurture our bodies, how we support our immune systems, stave off disease and promote a safer way of living. Malnutrition can take several forms. It could look like:

Undernutrition (including starvation and muscle wasting)
Deficiency (lack of key vitamins and minerals)
Obesity

Poor nutrition has the potential to undermine our physical and mental health, leading to:

Reduced concentration
Craving sugary or starchy foods
Anaemia
Weekend immune system
Anxiety
Changeable mood
Changes in the senses
Lack of appetite
Increased appetite
Severe weight loss
Severe weight gain
Cardiovascular health
Increased risk of communicable disease
High cholesterol
Unstable blood pressure
Fainting
Difficulty sleeping
Lethargy
Headaches
Brittle bones
Breathlessness

Eating too much or too little can be dangerous. But nutrition is not only about the amounts of food we eat but also about the types of food we incorporate into our diet.

A balanced diet includes a range of several types of food. These food types are:

Carbohydrates
Proteins
Fat and sugary foods
Fibre
Fruit and vegetables
Dairy

According to the NHS, ‘most people in the UK eat and drink too many calories.’ It also suggests that the average UK citizen does not have a balanced diet, tending towards too much fat, sugar and salt and not enough fruit, vegetables and fibre. This can lead to lethargy, intense cravings and blood pressure issues. This type of diet can leave us feeling low on fuel, meaning we rely on substances like cigarettes, coffee and alcohol (or other drugs) to help us find the energy to get through the day.

Nutrition and Addiction: What’s the link?

A lot of substances have the power to alter our hunger cues. They can also, over time, change our relationship with food. A physical sign of emotional distress is often a change in appetite (and, subsequently, a weight change). Some people, during periods of depression, may find their hunger is reduced. Others may find that eating to comfort themselves means eating more than usual. Some drugs have a similar effect. Specific substances, such as cannabis, are linked to a peak in hunger during the high. This is colloquially referred to as ‘the munchies.’ Many alcohol addicts may lean towards a ‘liquid’ diet, drinking in place of food.

In many ways, food and substance addiction are interlinked. But this is also the case for behavioural addictions. If someone becomes addicted to an activity, they may spend less time looking after themselves. This can include reduced attention to personal care and grocery shopping, which leads to skipping meals or frequent ‘detached’ snacking in front of screens.

There is also a high comorbidity between eating disorders and substance addictions, with:

27% of individuals with anorexia nervosa,
36.8% of individuals with bulimia nervosa,
and 23.3% of individuals with binge eating disorder

also dealing with an addiction to drugs or alcohol.

We can see that the link between eating and addiction can manifest in many dangerous ways. This is concerning given the clinical opinion that ‘[n]utrition intervention for people who use drugs or are undergoing treatment for recovery is underused.’ Focusing on addiction recovery and nutrition together can be a useful way to untangle some of these tricky connections.

Nutrition hindering addiction recovery

Poor nutrition can actively hinder recovery. This could take many forms, such as:

feeling weak and needing substances as a ‘boost’
convenience foods leading to peaks and troughs in energy
tiredness
low mood
anxiety
slipping into cycles of self-neglect
inability to focus
difficulty controlling cravings
eating ‘trigger’ foods (foods related to previous substance use)
developing aches and pains
feeling
generally unwell

All of these symptoms are likely to leave us feeling lethargic and low in motivation. They can make us feel sluggish and sleepy, depressed and struggling to find a reason to maintain our recovery goals. When we feel unwell – as we typically do when poorly nourished – we seek quick fixes. This means that poor eating habits can leave us depleted, ultimately leading us back to our addictive substance. Some people may find fluctuations in weight due to poor nourishment to trigger addictive behaviour. For example, women are more likely to relapse following weight gain.

Nutrition boosting addiction recovery

The palpable connection between addiction and nutrition is not necessarily negative. It can also be used to bolster recovery. For example:

integrating a routine
practising self-care through eating
improving focus
improving sleep
reducing cravings
increasing mood
reduced pain
offering opportunities for socialising
boosted immune system

Simple steps towards good nutrition

Nutrition is a vast and fascinating concept. But it can also be overwhelming. To implement good nutrition practices early on, it is helpful to integrate small, key steps, such as:

integrate mealtimes
meal plan where possible
avoid caffeine
avoid sugar
avoid (or reduce alcohol intake)
use supplements
be mindful of vitamin deficiency
eat whole grains and fibre
avoid fast and convenience foods
eat 5 portions of fruit and veg a day

Nutrition as a Lifestyle Change

At UKAT London Clinic, we offer the opportunity to reshape your relationship with food as part of your treatment programme, Which includes insight into nutritional health and how specific eating habits can boost and deplete our physical and mental health. Whilst at the clinic, you will have the opportunity to put this knowledge into practice. However, good nutrition is not only a rehab treatment but a lifestyle change. We aim to offer resources for you to tackle your nutritional wellbeing post-rehab with confidence and vigour, catalysing a long-term change to carry you through recovery.

Seek support

Reach out to us today for a complimentary consultation. We’re here to listen to your struggles and understand your needs, ensuring we find the best treatment tailored for you. Addiction can feel overwhelming, but we’re dedicated to lightening that burden and guiding you every step of the way toward a brighter, addiction-free future.

How does nutrition affect drug response?

Different foods can change the way our bodies interact with substances. For example, some drugs lead our bodies to absorb drugs faster or slower than others. Some foods interact negatively with drugs (for example, grapefruit lessens the efficacy of some antidepressants). The way we process drugs can also be impacted by our metabolism and weight, which can, itself, be influenced by our eating habits. Some substances can also appear more ‘potent’ on an empty stomach; for example, some people feel the effects of alcohol faster when they have eaten smaller amounts than usual.

Does nutrition help in addiction recovery?

There are numerous ‘nutritional issues faced by people who use drugs.’ Regulating nutritional intake can be a way of de-escalating some of these issues. It can also reintroduce the feelings of agency and choice, which can be very powerful sensations during addiction recovery.

Best food to eat to combat an addiction?

A lot of drugs cause deficiencies in specific vitamins. This makes taking supplements a great way to boost health during addiction recovery. Similarly useful foods to eat include:
fruit and vegetables
foods high in vitamin c
probiotic-rich yoghurts
lentils, legumes and other sources of protein
whole grains
fish

(Click here to see works cited)

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7659911/
https://www.who.int/health-topics/nutrition#tab=tab_1
https://www.who.int/health-topics/nutrition#tab=tab_1
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/malnutrition/symptoms/
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/overweight-and-obesity/symptoms
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/how-to-eat-a-balanced-diet/eating-a-balanced-diet/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4818200/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/scientific-explanation-how-marijuana-causes-munchies-180949660/
https://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/treatment-for-eating-disorders/co-occurring-dual-diagnosis/alcohol-substance-abuse#:~:text=This%20is%20often%20referred%20to,substance%20use%20disorder%20%5B1%5D
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8114851/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8114851/
https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/drug-nutrient-interactions.html#:~:text=A%20food%2Ddrug%20interaction%20is,them%20from%20working%20at%20all

Disclaimer:

The availability of therapies may vary across UKAT centres. The specific therapies provided will be determined based on your treatment plan and the programme offered at your chosen facility. All treatments are subject to clinical assessment and programme availability at the time of admission. For further details on the therapies included in your treatment plan, please contact our admissions team.