Drug And Alcohol Rehab Treatment By Right Nutrition

Aug. 29, 2010 - PRLog -- Addiction treatments for addiction have always emphasized on behavioral modification, the use of chemicals and medicines to relieve cravings combined with psychosocial counseling. A number of self-help groups also focus upon the problem with motivational viewpoint. One major thing they all tend to ignore or give due weightage is the nutrition aspect. You are what you eat is an old but true adage. Addicts by their very nature care very less about what they consume. And is it any wonder that in addition to being mental wrecks they are physically dilapidated also?

Since the last few years, a greater number of drug and alcohol rehab centers have included nutritional therapy in the treatment package for substance abuse. This shows a rising trend in the awareness about the importance of nutrition. Damaged liver, kidneys and intestinal linings drastically affect the metabolism leading to the body’s inability to absorb nutrition including many essential elements.

Providing the brain with essential nutrients is an effective way to help in the development of the patient. Many treatment centers with resident patients as well as non-resident patients are adopting this nutritional therapy for a more natural and effective treatment. Two most commonly used nutritional approaches include intravenous vitamin therapy and amino acid therapy.

These therapies are specially designed to boost the health of the patient and support various chemical reactions needed by the brain. A sound mind in a sound body is yet another popular saying that has stood the test of time. By fortifying the body and the mind with a balanced nutritious diet the patient is better empowered to undergo the therapy for a successful completion. A balanced nutritious diet planned by a nutritionist (now commonly found on the panels of such drug and alcohol rehab centers) has the right mix of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, minerals and vitamins.

Amino acids are the basic building blocks and are vital. Any deficiency in any of the vital amino acids affects the brain chemistry and can give rise to a craving for sweets, alcohol, tobacco or caffeine. Lack of a particular amino acid determines the craving for each thing. Treatment with help of amino acids is done by injecting the addicts with a daily dose of amino acid solution spread over a week or a month’s course. This helps the patient’s body to develop normal brain chemistry over a period of time.

A chronic case of addiction damages the patient’s gastrointestinal tract. This impairs the body’s ability to gain nutrition and absorb certain key vitamins. The patients may develop hyper or hypoglycemia and severe vitamin B deficiencies. This is a dangerous situation because it triggers acute cravings in the patient. Drug and alcohol rehab centers treat this by injections of micronutrients and essential vitamins. This is a smart step to bypass the gastrointestinal process and delivers the vitamins directly to the crucial areas. This is called the intravenous vitamin therapy.

These nutrition based therapies have been seen as most successful when combined with more traditional therapies for behavior modification, pharmaceutical, self-help and motivational approaches. Like watering a plant proper nutrition is one of the support structures to a successful rehab program.
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Integrity Way Transitional Housing is located in Delray Beach, Florida. Integrity Way's website address is http://www.integritywayflorida.com