Sometimes, the importance of nutrition is understated when it comes to health. Most people go through their daily lives with little care for what they put into their bodies. With this mindset, it can pave the way for not just nutritional deficiencies but real harm to your mental health. That's why care is taken at Driftwood Recovery to educate clients about the importance of nutrition. When someone has the tools and skills to make good and healthy decisions, they are likelier to choose the healthy option.
Understanding nutrition can be difficult for some, especially those who grew up with food insecurity or had no nutritional education. It's okay to not be sure what to do at first. Learning how to eat healthy is easy, especially when you can put what you learn into practice. Once you understand the importance of nutrition, you can make better decisions about your health. Before we can understand how to better integrate nutrition into our lives, we must first understand why it's so important.
The Importance of Nutrition for Health
Our bodies are essentially biological machines. What we put into our bodies becomes fuel that goes on to influence all aspects of our minds and bodies. A study published by Frontiers in Nutrition points out the link between diet and overall well-being. Evidence suggests that nutritional deficiencies impair our ability to function on a physical and mental level. A poor diet can result in poor moods, which can snowball into mood disorders, such as depression. Our internal gut microbiome is influenced by our diet, which can also have an impact on our mental health.
Being aware of the importance of nutrition is also vital to understanding how various conditions affect our daily lives. Having poor nutrition can worsen the symptoms of several conditions, especially chronic pain. This ties into how nutrition influences our physical health. If we don't eat foods that nourish us, we don't have the energy to do much of anything. This is especially important in treatment, as it is both physically and mentally intensive. You cannot pour out of an empty cup. Without being able to replace the energy that you lose, it's nearly impossible to focus on treatment.
The act of eating and having a meal is also important in establishing healthy routines. Having a routine can help clients set aside time to slow down and enjoy a relaxing meal. This can reduce stress and provide balance to a busy day. So, in all, nutrition is vital to all aspects of life, and its importance cannot be ignored.
How Driftwood Recovery Emphasizes the Importance of Nutrition
The staff at Driftwood Recovery understands the importance of nutrition in their client's lives. That is why there is an onsite chef who is trained in creating nutritionally balanced and delicious meals. Clients at Driftwood Recovery can expect to receive meals that promote healing, replace the energy spent in treatment, and nourish all parts of the body. Those in the residential treatment program don't have to worry about figuring out the importance of nutrition right away, as they can trust the onsite chef to care for their nutritional needs.
That's not to say that clients don't have to learn about the importance of nutrition. Part of the treatment is learning life skills that make healthy changes in their lives. Clients learn about what foods are right for themselves and their needs from an onsite registered dietitian. For example, a client may be suggested to eat fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids to promote brain health. Clients are given time to learn and practice these skills in a supportive environment. Many clients eventually leave treatment with a better understanding of food and its role in their health.
Integrating Healthy Nutritional Choices Into Daily Life
With time and practice, anyone can integrate the importance of nutrition into their daily life choices. The skills learned in treatment can go on to help clients live healthier lives, but at the pace they set for themselves. For one, clients are not expected to start big. Instead, they work up to making big changes by making several little ones.
For example, changing your diet suddenly can be a shock to someone's system. It's hard to get someone who has never eaten a vegetable in their lives to suddenly love them. By adding small amounts of vegetables to at least one meal a day, clients can begin to get used to eating them. Soon enough, there is a vegetable in each meal, allowing them to receive vital nutrients.
Learning to cook and create your meals is another great way to learn the importance of nutrition. Cooking gives clients a bit of control over their lives. They may not be able to choose the conditions they have to live with, but they can choose what they put in their bodies. These choices can make a real difference to their levels of health and comfort. It lets them take an active approach to their recovery and gives them a sense of confidence and pride. Cooking is considered a healthier choice than grabbing “fast” food and allows someone to slow down and appreciate the efforts made to improve their health.
For those who further need help understanding the importance of nutrition, know that there will always be assistance. The staff at Driftwood Recovery will always be happy to show you how to change your life, one bite at a time.
Our bodies and brains are fueled by the food we eat. When we are not adequately nourished, our physical and mental health can rapidly decline. Understanding the importance of proper and comprehensive nutrition allows people to make healthy choices for themselves, especially if said choices can enhance the quality of their lives. Here at Driftwood Recovery in Driftwood and Austin, Texas, clients learn about the nutrition they need to heal from an on-site registered dietician. With a focus on wholesome, nourishing foods, clients get the fuel they need to focus on their treatment and recovery. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, chronic pain, or mental health, don't wait to get help. Call (512) 759-8330 today.