How Important is Gut Health to Recovery?

There are many issues that we must address once we choose to recover. These are both external and internal. These are physical, emotional, mental, and even spiritual issues that require attention. This includes taking care of our gut microbiome, which is often damaged due to prolonged alcohol and/or substance use.

How Important Is Gut Health to Recovery?

Many people ignore their gut health. This is often because they don’t have an understanding of how important their gut health can be.

According to the peer-reviewed journal Nutrients, “The gut microbiome plays an important role in human health and influences the development of chronic diseases ranging from metabolic disease to gastrointestinal disorders and colorectal cancer. Of increasing prevalence in Western societies, these conditions carry a high burden of care. Dietary patterns and environmental factors have a profound effect on shaping gut microbiota in real time.”

In recovery, it is important that all components of the capital “S” Self are taken care of. This includes physical health. However, before any action is taken in recovery, you must first realize that you need help.

Better Understanding Addiction and Mental Illness for the Individual and the Family

Addiction and mental illness affect millions of people every day. It is a deadly disease that breaks people down and destroys families, and, yes, it is a disease. Many people are under the misconception that addiction is some type of moral failing or “choice.” This is simply false. Most addiction specialists and medical professionals agree that addiction has more in common with other chronic diseases like cancer and diabetes than it does with a choice.

It is also important to remember that addiction doesn’t just affect the individual, but can affect everyone in that individual’s orbit, especially the family. According to the peer-reviewed journal Social Work in Public Health, “The family remains the primary source of attachment, nurturing, and socialization for humans in our current society. Therefore, the impact of substance use disorders (SUDs) on the family and individual family members merits attention. Each family and each family member is uniquely affected by the individual using substances, including but not limited to having unmet developmental needs, impaired attachment, economic hardship, legal problems, emotional distress, and sometimes violence being perpetrated against him or her.”

Understanding the Gut Microbiome and Addiction

The connection between the gut microbiome and addiction is becoming better understood. According to the peer-reviewed journal, Neurobiology of Stress, “In recent years, an increasing [amount of] attention has given to the intricate and diverse connection of microorganisms residing in our gut and their impact on brain health and central nervous system disease. There has been a shift in mindset to understand that drug addiction is not merely a condition that affects the brain; it is now being recognized as a disorder that also involves external factors such as the intestinal microbiota, which could influence vulnerability and the development of addictive behaviors. Furthermore, stress and social interactions, which are closely linked to the intestinal microbiota, are powerful modulators of addiction.”

Addiction affects every component of our lives. However, the good news is that those components can be pieced back together rather quickly once a plan of recovery is set in place. This includes a recovery plan that focuses on diet and exercise.

The Importance of Diet and Exercise in Recovery

Many people don’t realize the extreme toll that addiction can take on one’s physical health in a short amount of time. According to the peer-reviewed journal Nutrition Reviews, “Additionally, substance use can compromise the user’s nutrition and greatly affect their dietary habits. In general, this population has a disrupted and chaotic lifestyle, and money is usually spent on drugs rather than on food. This severely affects the user’s food intake, which eventually leads to undernutrition.” 

Focusing on diet and exercise can quickly help to reverse these issues. This is why working with professional nutritionists and dieticians can be so helpful. Working with physical trainers can also be helpful. Of course, these physical components of recovery should also be used in tandem with other types of therapy, like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Holistic healing methods can also be helpful.

Many people find that yoga and meditation can be helpful in their recovery. These mindfulness tools can help bring about a sense of serenity, offer mental clarity, and even lower blood pressure. Yoga can also help with strength and flexibility.

Our Primary Purpose at Lantana Recovery

Here at Lantana Recovery, our primary purpose is to help you recover by any means necessary. This is why all of our recovery plans are individualized and comprehensive, with a focus on the future. This includes a focus on diet and exercise.

If you are sick and tired of being sick and tired, then you are ready to recover. You can do this! We can help.

The gut microbiome is a critical component of overall health. Alcohol and substance addiction greatly affect the health of the gut. The good news is that there are many ways to get that gut health back in recovery. The key is establishing and maintaining a healthy routine of diet and exercise. If you feel that you or a loved one is struggling with issues of addiction, mental illness, or co-occurring disorders, we can help get you on the positive path toward long-term recovery right away. You don’t have to go through this process alone. For more information about improving your gut health in recovery, please reach out to Lantana Recovery today at (866) 997-2870.