It’s no secret that many of us struggle with addiction in our daily lives. With the stress and chaos of modern life, it’s no wonder that we often feel like we need a little something extra to get us through the day or help us unwind at night. But we can’t just blame our circumstances for our addiction. While our current lifestyle can be demanding and make it difficult to find a work-life balance, we still have a responsibility to seek out healthier ways of coping.

Fortunately, there are many techniques, supplements, and mental or spiritual exercises that can serve as alternatives to substance use. Addiction is like a program that runs in our minds, and it’s not something that can simply be deleted. But we can work to fill the void that drives our addiction with healthy, sustainable habits and practices. And one of the most effective ways to support addiction recovery is through proper diet and nutrition.

In addition to exercise and other healthy lifestyle choices, eating a well-balanced diet can be crucial for supporting addiction recovery. This means eating plenty of whole foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein sources, while limiting processed foods and refined sugars. It’s also important to stay hydrated, as dehydration can lead to fatigue and exacerbate cravings. By prioritizing nutrition and making healthy choices, we can support our bodies and minds as we work to overcome addiction.

Sugar and processed foods can be an often overlooked addiction, the way our body processes sugar is very similar to a drug, it sends a rush of neurochemicals to our brain that we would not otherwise get from whole foods. This leads to a short burst of energy and a feeling of  slight euphoria followed by a crash. Overtime tolerance builds just like with a drug and the only way to get the same effect is to consume more, before you know it you start to have the side effects of weight gain, candida overgrowth, weakened immune system, sore joints and more. I personally use my experience and battle with addiction to connect to the people I work with and use the same techniques that got me sober to help people get healthier and loose weight.

Don’t let bad habits dictate your life, take the reigns and become the best version of yourself!