Category: Alternative Treatment

How Sugar Affects the Brain

It is pretty common knowledge that excess amounts of sugar can have a negative effect on the body. It may not be as commonly known that sugar also affects the brain negatively. Below you will read several of the negative impacts of how sugar affects the brain and how sugar addiction can actually exist.

Negative Impacts

The brain functions at all time. From in utero until the time we die. This takes an amazing amount of energy when compared to the other bodily organs. For humans, glucose, a form of sugar, is the fuel for the brain. Unfortunately for those with a sweet tooth, more is not better for the brain when it comes to sugar. Excess sugar impairs both our self-control and cognitive skills. This is because sugar has a drug like effect on the brain. In fact, this is why it can become addictive in and of itself. It’s also why people in detox often crave sugary, sweet foods.

For those who can’t ‘just say no’ to sugary foods, you are more likely to gain weight, overeat, and lose self-control. This is in part due to sugar activating the reward center of the brain. The stronger the sugar intake, the more reward the body receives. At least it feels that way.

Problems Caused by Excessive Sugar

As mentioned, more is not better when it comes to sugar. Excessive sugar is very harmful to the body. Elevated glucose levels can result in slowed cognitive functioning and memory deficits as well as affect mood. With higher blood sugar, people may not be able to process emotion. In diabetics, increased sadness and anxiety may be felt. Continued high levels of glucose can lead to extended damage over time. Including eye issues, hypertension, elevated cholesterol, and even brain damage. We can fight sugar cravings and addictions by using replacement foods that are sweet with natural sugar, like fruit.

Sweets and Addiction

With the number of substances that one can now be addicted to, it seems almost humorous to consider sugar as addictive. However, the link between sweets and addiction is notable. Several studies have found that sugar is just as addictive as drugs like heroin or cocaine. While a hardcore heroin user may disagree as it would be unlikely that a sugar addict ends up homeless and pawning heirlooms for a sugar fix, the chemical reactions in the body are the same. Think about this in relation to children who have a strong sugar addiction. While at three or four it may not seem that important, getting the brain used to that continuous reward response may lead to harsher drugs in the future or in the least health issues.

Seek Help

If you have a sugar addiction or are trying to prevent one in a loved one, consult a doctor or nutritionist to help start curbing and then kicking the habit. It can be self defeating to think all sugar can be taken out of your life, but learning to make small replacements over time can keep you healthy and on track to a long life.

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Diet, Chronic Pain and Addiction

There are some things in life that is it simple to connect. While others take a deeper understanding to see the actual connection. It may difficult for some to see the connection between diet, chronic pain and addiction. But for those suffering and especially those in recovery, the connection is clear. Read on to learn how the connection is made.

Chronic Pain

Pain is a normal bodily reaction to illness and injury. It is a way for your body to warn you something is wrong. Along the same lines, when the injury is healed or the illness passes, the pain should also subside. Unfortunately for some with extreme injuries, the pain continues long after the problem is gone. When pain lasts for at least 3 to 6 months or more, with the originating cause being gone, it is known as chronic pain. Chronic pain can take a toll on the body both physically and mentally. All energy goes to dealing with the overall pain and other basic functions can suffer.

For many with chronic pain, a pain reliever is prescribed. This pain reliever is often very strong and contains a narcotic or opioid of types. As chronic pain sufferers build a tolerance to the medication, they may start abusing it and even become addicted. Though it started as a helpful option, a full blown addiction can be dangerous and is doing nothing to alleviate the pain.

Due to the nature of chronic pain, and the toll it takes on the body, nutrients may be quickly depleted due to the body trying to heal or simply function with the pain. Additionally, those with chronic pain may be unlikely to spend time cooking healthy meals. This is because standing and moving around can be painful. This means poor food choices may be made and the body suffer more from lack of nutrition. The same is true of those with addiction as eating is not always a priority over the addiction.  In this way, diet, chronic pain, and addiction are all related.

Diet and Treatment

While healthy foods, vitamins, and minerals cannot heal all issues, chronic or otherwise, healthy choices can help the body fight. This applies not only to defending against germs. However, keeping the mind healthy and the body ready to replenish important nutrients lost when in active addiction or chronic pain. It is not far fetched to think that a healthy, proportional diet can help the body to rid itself of toxins allowed in by drug abuse. Allowing to heal bones and muscles, and even to allow for clearer thinking.

If you are suffering from chronic pain that has led to addiction or you are concerned about addiction than a diet change could help you both heal and wean off of any medication. Those who take opioids are prone to crave sugar and sweets. However, avoiding these foods in excess and replacing them with high protein foods and green vegetables will actually help the body and mind heal better over time. For those with addictions, the overuse of medication can also deplete the vitamin and mineral stores in one’s body. By choosing to eat healthy and get plenty of vitamins, especially B and D, the body can detox more efficiently and begin to heal.

Seek Help

If you feel a diet change could make a difference in your pain or addiction, then seek help. Many inpatient and outpatient facilities like DARA, have a nutritionist on staff that can help you begin healing from the inside out. Don’t be afraid to make that call.

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Can Vitamins and Minerals Help in Recovery?

What is Recovery

For those actually in recovery from drugs and/or alcohol, no formal definition is necessary. In fact, this life changing choice and the work that has gone into getting clean is testament enough for an addict to define recovery. However, the general public and concerned loved ones may not truly understand what being ‘in recovery’ means. In essence, recovery is a dynamic and complex process that encompasses all the positive mental, social, and physical health for addicts and loved ones when they receive much needed help. This is a process. An addict will never not be an addict. But in recovery, they are no longer using and the quality of life is much improved. There are many different pathways that one takes in recovery and these may change over time. The key is finding what works for you and your lifestyle.

Help in Recovery

Once someone has gone into treatment and is working towards recovery, the true effects of addiction can come to light. While there are numerous social, mental, and physical effects of drug and alcohol abuse, this article will focus on the physical realm. It can be tough to give up something you are addicted to. However, addiction has physical effects on the body that you may not notice until you are in recovery. When facing active addiction, the drug of choice is the main focus. This often means that caring for your body in a healthy way falls to the wayside. You may not eat or choose the wrong foods, choose alcohol over water, and deplete your body’s store of all things good over time.

As part of a healthy recovery, you will need to rebuild these stores and create a healthier lifestyle over all. One way to do this is by adding vitamins and minerals to your diet. Either through healthier eating habits or pills. This not only helps you physically, but being healthier can boost your mood mentally as well.

Vitamins and Minerals

Vitamins and minerals are micronutrients. This means they are needed, but in relatively small amounts. These micronutrients are responsible for growth and development, metabolism, cell functioning, energy conversion, and even disease prevention. As getting clean and remaining in recovery can be taxing on the body, these micronutrients are vital. Drugs and alcohol interfere with the absorption and often consumption of these important micronutrients. This means that those in active addiction could have deficiencies that affect their overall health. There are a few vitamins and minerals that those who are coming out of active addiction may need to get back to good health and possibly be more successful in staying in recovery.

What to Look For

B vitamins, ranging from B1 to B12, are all water soluble. They are not stored in the body and are thus needed daily. Each B vitamin plays a different role, but they contribute to energy production and normal functioning of the nervous system. Alcohol destroys these vitamins and not eating properly means you are probably lacking. Vegetables, whole grains, milk, and meats are a good way to replenish this particular vitamin.

Calcium, magnesium, and zinc are also important to the body. Each is directly and negatively affected by drug and alcohol addiction. In fact, lower levels of these essential nutrients can mimic withdrawal symptoms or make withdrawal symptoms worse. Dairy products, leafy green veggies, and nuts and seeds will help the body, cardiovascular system, and even immune system improve.

Vitamin D is also highly important. This vitamin promotes calcium absorption, bone growth, and neuromuscular functioning. Low levels of vitamin D have also been shown to cause depression for many. This particular nutrient is found in fish, egg yolks, and fortified foods such as yogurt, juice, and some other drinks. This can help increase energy as depression is alleviated while in recovery.

Seek Help

If you find yourself depleted due to withdrawal or general addiction, then the key is a variety of good, healthy foods or supplements. This will not only help your body heal, but help you to move forward as you feel better. A healthy lifestyle and caring for your body is an important aspect of any long term recovery program and you are worth the effort.

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Addiction to Antidepressants: What are Antidepressants

Antidepressants are a commonly prescribed medication for those with depressive disorders. These medications are meant to reduce the symptoms of depression. Thus, allowing the person to function normally. They work by correcting chemical imbalances in the brain that alter the person’s mood and behaviors. Antidepressants are used to treat more than depression as they have also shown effectiveness with anxiety, OCD, PTSD, and panic attacks. Antidepressants have become highly common as the stigma of taking such medications has virtually disappeared.

Is Addiction Possible

While it may seem that addiction to prescription medications is possible, it seems odd that antidepressants could lead to addiction. However, this is a possibility. The first true sign of addiction is tolerance. Tolerance occurs when the patient no longer responds to the drug that is present in their system. Consequently, they need more to attain that feeling once again. That being said, the risk of antidepressant addiction is low. Therefore, more of the medication does not better the experience. Furthermore, when being weaned off of antidepressants the likelihood of withdrawal symptoms of any kind is unlikely.

If you have become dependent or addicted to an antidepressant, there is a need for professional help. If fully stopping the medication all at once, some withdrawal effects may occur. These include nausea, insomnia, feelings of electrical shock in the brain, and even alteration in touch sensation. Some withdrawal effects could be worse or others may exist. However, these are based on the sudden discontinuation of an SSRI antidepressant.

Other types of antidepressants such as benzodiazepine can be more addictive and have stronger withdrawal symptoms. However, SSRIs are the most commonly prescribed because of the known component of addiction with other medications.

Dual Diagnosis

One common issue for those that are dependent or addicted to antidepressants is not necessarily the antidepressant, but a co-morbid disorder. Those who need antidepressants often have a dual diagnosis of depression with substance abuse, or other mental health disorders. Hence, makes dependence or addiction more likely. Therefore, even if you find a way to go without the antidepressant, symptoms of the other disorder still need to be dealt with. Meaning you may go back to using or abusing antidepressants.

The other concern, especially for addiction to antidepressants is that the person using them was misdiagnosed. If misdiagnosed it does not change the fact that the antidepressants change the brain’s chemistry. For those with depression this helps to alleviate some if not all of the depressive symptoms. On the other hand, for those without depression the brain chemistry is still altered and better feelings may come about. However, there is a slightly higher chance for dependence or addiction.

Getting Help

If you find yourself struggling with the use and misuse of antidepressants, then first speak to the prescribing doctor. They can often help wean you off at a safe rate so withdrawal is avoided. If you are still struggling with depression after the antidepressants then seek help to learn about options without the use of medication. Antidepressants help many, but other treatment options are available.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.