Nutrition in Addiction Recovery 
A recent article by Jeanene Swanson in Addiction Treatment Magazine by Elements Behavioral Health featured David Wiss MS RDN, founder of Nutrition in Recovery.
The article features awesome information such as this:
The Recovery Diet
So, just what should recovering addicts eat?
- Less sugar – Staying away from sweetened foods (anything with added sugar counts) will help stabilize blood sugar levels, which will help with mood swings, anxiety and depression.
- Fewer refined carbohydrates – Choose whole grains instead.
- More protein – The amino acids in proteins serve as building blocks for neurotransmitters, which are often lacking in addicts.
- More fiber. Fruits and vegetables help begin to heal the gastrointestinal system.
- More healthy fats – Good fats help the body absorb fat-soluble vitamins. Choose olive oil, flaxseed oil and omega-3s (found in fatty fish, nuts and flax seeds).
- Fewer processed foods – Liver repair is critical in early sobriety, says Henninger, so stay away from processed foods with artificial ingredients.
- Less caffeine – Caffeine can exacerbate insomnia and anxiety, which are especially prevalent in early sobriety.
Wiss likes to encourage a “never hungry, never full” diet, encouraging his patients to eat every two to four hours, or six small meals a day. The importance of keeping blood sugar levels stable cannot be overstated, he says. There is a strong connection between mood swings and blood sugar changes, as well as depression and nutritional deficiencies. Both can lead to relapse in early addiction recovery if not managed well.
To read the full article, click HERE
David Wiss
David became a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) in 2013 and founded Nutrition in Recovery, a group practice of RDNs specializing in treating eating and substance use disorders. In 2017, David received the “Excellence in Practice” award at the National Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo. The California Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics awarded him the “Emerging Dietetic Leader Award” in 2020. He earned his Ph.D. from UCLA’s Fielding School of Public Health in the Community Health Sciences department (with a minor in Health Psychology) by investigating the links between adverse childhood experiences and various mental health outcomes among socially disadvantaged men. His treatment philosophy is based on a biopsychosocial model which incorporates an understanding of biological mechanisms, psychological underpinnings, and contextual factors that integrate the social determinants of health. Wise Mind Nutrition's website offers a fully online interactive treatment program in Spring 2023.