For Many Drug Abusers, Recovery Typically Involves Omega 3 Fish Oil

Eating a diet chock full o’ vitamins and nutrients has forever been central to a healthy life, but now research studies demonstrate that there is possibly a connection between substance addiction and dietary inadequacies. Carolyn Reuben, a nutrition expert (and the executive director of the Community Addiction Recovery Association in Sacramento, CA) says that our bodies often react to certain nutritional deficiencies in a way that can ultimately lead to {mental health disturbances} and/or substance addiction.

She and other dieticians consider lack of fish oils as part of the problem. Based on an addict’s drug of choice or major complaints, Reuben says experts can name which amino acids, vitamins and nutrients are deficient.

People suffering from substance usually do not eat a nutritious diet. Moreover, drugs exhaust important nutrients from the addict’s body, so supplanting and maintaining them are an important part of recovery. Moreover, drugs drain vitamins and nutrients from the user’s body, so replenishing and maintaining them are an important part of rehabilitation.

Reuben asserts, paraphrased, that there’s an an important link between our behavior and our sustenance, a direct connection between our food intake and positive outlook. If an individual starts taking alcohol or engaging in substance abuse and their response is, “I don’t feel high, I feel normal,” that’s the sign that indicates they came into life with a bio-chemical insufficiency. They are low in something and we can correct that with our diet, sometimes with amino acids, fish oil, vitamin C or B. Fish oil benefits seem to be of utmost importance.

This approach is based on clinical analysis by Professor Stephen Schoenthaler, PhD, who found a relationship between elevated sugar intake, low vitamin consumption and aggression, in 1985. He discovered that prison convicts who were administered daily vitamin/mineral supplements had as much as a 43% decrease in hostile behavior, which led researchers to begin exploring the association between nutrition and dependency. More recent research have also learned that giving inmates omega-3 supplement also lessens hostility.

The CARA program advises that individuals (in conjunction with their physician) start a schedule of consuming 3 meals a day, each containing at least 20 g of protein, at least 4 cups of vegetables, 2 grams of vitamin C, a multivitamin, 1-3 grams of omega-3, 500 mg of L-glutamine, and 2-3 mcg of chromium. It also suggests avoiding white sugar and flour, which might exhaust the body of vitamin B. The program also advises avoiding processed sugar and flour, which could drain the body of vitamin B. Although many factors are responsible for substance and alcohol abuse, consuming a diet rich in nutrients, vitamins, minerals and omega-3 fish oil is definitely a key part of the successful route to recovery and a substance-free life!

For additional info on ways to help a substance or alcohol addict you can call 1-877-782-7409 or visit Addicthelp.org.

Read more about omega 3 on the website of Brittany A.M. Wallace. Brittany is an expert on health who studied fish oil supplements for over 10 years.