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A healthy mind starts with a healthy body

Many addicts in early recovery are not ready to change their eating habits, since most are simply trying to get past the immediate crisis of addiction and the associated life adjustments of abstinence.

Learn to love yourself, live well and eat well

By the time substance users seek help, many are malnourished, in part because the addiction cycle results in poor eating habits and in part because the substance and addiction wreaks havoc on the body’s ability to absorb nutrients. Good nutrition and a clear mind is formative to good health, and helps to ward off illness and disease instead of falling prey to stress and poor thoughts which can trigger relapse.

Giving your body with the right the right fuel will help you feel better and stronger. A few tips include to:

  • Eat well balanced meals, lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and good sources of fresh protein such as red meat, mercury-free fish, eggs and sugar-free yogurt.
  • Drink lots of fresh water. Filtered water is better than tap water - it contains less contaminates and can be more alkalising depending on the filter.  
  • Avoid sugary products. Sugar is highly acidic and depresses the immune system. Avoid processed and packaged foods as much as possible. These products are normally highly acidic and contains artificial ingredients. A very acidic environment pulls calcium from the bones in order to keep its environment more alkalised to function adequately and keep the heart healthy. The human body functions best in a more alkalised state. The more acidic the body is - the more prone it is to diseases, bacteria and viruses, which thrive in acidic conditions, therefore increasing a person’s mortality rate. 
  • Avoid or limit the use of caffeine and alcohol where possible. The nervous system is deeply stressed and compromised due to drug use and further use of stimulants or depressants just makes it harder for the body to get back into homeostasis (balance). 
  • If you’re a smoker - you need to stop! Smoking poisons your body and it will slowly kill you. 
  • Try to avoid artificial flavours, colours and additives where possible, these ingredients can create long term respiratory, reproductive, neurological and immune system problems. 
  • Try to avoid microwaves - they can destroy many vital nutrients in foods that your body needs in order to function adequately.

Essential supplements for extra support (general only):

  • B-complex
  • Magnesium
  • Green powder blend of mixed superfoods
  • High dose Vitamin C
  • Probiotics

Non-essential supplements (therapeutic only) - are case dependant and would require a consultation based on symptoms. 

Sit with nature as much as possible, listen to nature’s music: the waves and sound of the water from the ocean; the birds chirping, singing and flying around; the trees blowing; the wind hitting objects and other noises from animals and insects etc. If things are starting to get to you, you could always:

  • Get outdoors and breathe fresh air
  • Spend time in and around nature. It has everything we need as humans to reconnect the body back. The smells, visuals and sounds are all calming and rejuvenating for the body 
  • Listen to calm music to soothe the soul. We need to rejuvenate the body not get it excited 
  • Spend time with pets and animals  
  • Bask in the sun - at least 30min-1hour every day to maintain good vitamin D levels. Vitamin D is involved in the regulation of many metabolic reactions in the body especially mood regulation and depression

It’s important to breathe in and out through the nostrils as much as possible. Nose breathing increases circulation, blood oxygen and carbon dioxide levels. It slows heart rate and improves overall lung volume which provides more oxygen to the bloodstream increasing and maintaining proper energy levels. Nose breathing increases brain activity and calms the nervous system.

Proper breathing is essential to health. Chest breathing is short and quick and delivers minimal oxygen to the bloodstream. Whereas stomach or diaphragmatic breathing is slower and deeper providing more oxygen to the bloodstream increasing energy levels and naturally assists the body to detox.

The way you present yourself and the barriers you put up to others can influence your recovery. A few tips:

  • Avoid toxic people and surroundings. Spend time with positive and inspiring people who will lift your spirits and give you the strength to keep going and never give up. Life is about never giving up.
  • Hug as much as possible - the human touch has profound healing benefits especially for people struggling.
  • Love - the most powerful and healing emotion and feeling on the planet. Keep your heart open and love yourself. “The love you get is the love you give”. Don’t rob yourself from loving.
  • Thoughts - be careful what you think. Negativity breeds negativity, positivity breeds positivity.
  • Nobody can change your attitude, only you can do this for you. It’s a choice.

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