For Many Drug Addicts, Recovery Typically Involves Fish Oil

Eating a diet filled with vitamins and nutrients has always been essential, but now studies demonstrate that there could be a connection between drug abuse and dietary inadequacies. Carolyn Reuben, a nutrition authority (and the executive director of the Community Addiction Recovery Association in Sacramento, CA) states that the human body can respond to certain nutritional deficiencies in a way that can ultimately lead to mental health disturbances and/or addiction.

She and other nutritionists see deficiency in omega-3 fatty acids as one of the problems. Based on a particular person's preferred substance or main ailments, Reuben states experts can tell which amino acids, vitamins and nutrients are insufficient.

Individuals struggling with substance typically do not follow a healthful diet. Moreover, drugs deplete vitamins and nutrients from the substance abuser's body, so supplanting and conserving them are an important part of recovery. Furthermore, drugs exhaust vitamins and nutrients from the user's body, so replenishing and maintaining these vitamins and nutrients are an important part of recovery.

Reuben believes, paraphrased, that there exists an a substantial connection between our conduct and our sustenance, a direct link between our diet and good mood. If somebody starts drinking or engaging in substance abuse and their reply is, "I don't feel high, I feel normal," that's the key that shows they came into life with a neurochemical insufficiency. They are insufficient in something and we can fix that with our diet, sometimes with amino acids, fish oil, vitamin C or B. Fish oil benefits seem to be of supreme significance.

Much of this approach is based on research by Professor Stephen Schoenthaler, PhD, who discovered a connection between elevated sugar intake, low vitamin intake and aggression, in 1985. He learned that prison inmates who were given day-to-day nutritional supplements had as much as a 43% decrease in violence, which prompted investigators to begin exploring the relationship between nutrition and dependency. More recent studies have also found that giving inmates omega-3 fatty acid capsules also lessens hostility.

The CARA program proposes that individuals (in cooperation with their doctor) start a regimen of consuming 3 meals daily, each containing at least 20 g of protein, at least 4 cups of vegetables, 2 grams of vitamin C, a multivitamin, 1000-3000 mg of fish oil, 500 mg of L-glutamine, and 2-3 mcg of chromium. It also suggests avoiding white sugar and flour, which might deplete the body of vitamin B. The program also suggests avoiding processed sugar and flour, which could drain the body of vitamin B. Although numerous factors play a part in substance and alcohol abuse, eating a diet rich in nutrients, vitamins, minerals and fish oil supplements is definitely an essential part of the successful route to recovery and a drug-free life!

For additional information on ways to assist a drug or alcohol abuser you should call 1-877-782-7409 or access Addicthelp.org.