Opioid Use Disorder: What to Eat as You Recover

Eating a balanced and healthy diet is an essential part of recovery from opioid use disorder (OUD). Proper nutrition can help to improve your overall health, energy levels, and mood, and it can also reduce cravings and relapse risk. Here are some tips for eating a healthy diet during OUD recovery:

1. Eat regular meals and snacks: Eating regular meals and snacks throughout the day can help to stabilize your blood sugar levels and reduce cravings. Aim to eat three meals and two snacks per day.

2. Choose whole foods: Whole foods are unprocessed and contain more nutrients than processed foods. They also tend to be more filling, which can help to reduce cravings. Some examples of whole foods include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein.

3. Limit added sugars: Added sugars can contribute to weight gain, inflammation, and other health problems. Limit your intake of added sugars to no more than 6 teaspoons per day for women and 9 teaspoons per day for men.

4. Choose healthy fats: Healthy fats can help to keep you feeling full and satisfied. Some examples of healthy fats include olive oil, avocado, nuts, and seeds.

5. Drink plenty of water: Staying hydrated is essential for overall health and can also help to reduce cravings. Aim to drink eight glasses of water per day.

6. Consider a Mediterranean-style diet: The Mediterranean-style diet has been shown to have several health benefits, including reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. This diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats.

In addition to eating a healthy diet, there are other lifestyle changes that you can make to support your OUD recovery. These changes include:

1. Getting regular exercise

2. Getting enough sleep

3. Managing stress

4. Avoiding alcohol and other drugs

5. Building a strong support network

Recovery from OUD is a journey, and there will be ups and downs along the way. However, eating a healthy diet and making other healthy lifestyle changes can help to improve your chances of long-term success.