Nutrition During Detox

Healthy, balanced meals for clients in drug and alcohol detox

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Why Is Proper Nutrition Important During Drug Detox?

Nutrition, just like physical exercise, is an important part of the physical recovery process. Many individuals who suffer from addiction to drugs and alcohol also develop very poor eating habits. This often leads to malnourishment, mood disorders, and other physical ailments.

Drug and alcohol abuse can also inhibit the body’s natural functions and severely impair its ability to extract and absorb important vitamins and minerals. Other drugs, such as marijuana, may also cause the user to binge on fatty and sugary foods.

At Briarwood Detox Center, we emphasize proper nutrition to help our clients heal and recover both physically and mentally. By providing nutritious meal options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, we give each client the best opportunity for lasting recovery. This helps establish healthy eating habits and gives their bodies time and resources to heal from the damage done by drug and alcohol abuse.

What Should a Healthy Diet Look Like in Drug Detox?

A healthy diet during drug and alcohol detox is simply a balanced diet that supports lifelong health. It includes the following essential nutrients.

Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates play an important role in the functioning of the brain and nervous system. Healthy carbs can be found in sources like brown rice, sweet potatoes, and chickpeas.
Protein: Protein is a vital building block that enables your body to perform many different functions, like healing and strengthening itself. Examples of protein-rich foods include lean beef, chicken, seafood, soy, and beans.
Fiber: Fiber helps prevent constipation and regulate the digestive process. Nuts, berries, broccoli, apples, and whole grains are all great sources of fiber.
Healthy Fats: Although saturated and trans fatty acids are not good for you, unsaturated fats are essential for a healthy, balanced diet and can help lower cholesterol and the risk of heart disease. Healthy fats are found in a variety of foods, including eggs, chia seeds, extra virgin olive oil, fish, and nuts.
Vitamins and Minerals: Many of the body’s major functions rely on vitamins and minerals, such as Vitamin A, B, C, D, E, K, folic acid, and calcium, among others. These nutrients can be found in food sources like tomatoes, dairy, green leafy vegetables, and bananas.
Water: Adults typically need to drink eight 8 oz. glasses of water every day to stay hydrated. Proper nutrition is essential for bodily functions as 60 percent of the human body is water. Certain foods like watermelon and celery will also improve hydration.

What Kinds of Meals are Served at Briarwood Detox Center?

Meals at our Austin Location – All of the meals served at Briarwood Detox Center in Austin are carefully planned and proportioned to meet your nutritional needs while you’re completing your drug and alcohol detox program. Our experienced Executive Chef has partnered with a dietician to provide meals that are both healthy and delicious. Weekly meal plans are designed to incorporate all the essential nutrients needed for a balanced diet, and we are more than willing to adjust meals for individuals who have dietary restrictions such as egg or nut allergies.

Meals at our Houston Location – All of the meals served at Briarwood Detox Center in Houston are prepared and provided by several select high-quality, local food establishments. With a wide selection of food options available, clients can choose the type of food they prefer to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. While a variety of meal options are available to our Houston clients, our staff encourages a nutritious, well-balanced diet to aid with detox and recovery.

In some cases, you may not be able to eat solid foods during the first few days of your detox program. If so, our chef will make sure you have easy-to-digest foods like jello or broth and Gatorade to make sure you stay hydrated.

Here is an example of one of our dietitian-approved menus at our Austin location:

Monday