Nutrition For Recovering Meth Addicts: Foods For Recovery Part 3

Nutritional studies recommended that people in recoveryfrom meth eat on "cruise control" throughout the day. This means eating small, frequent mini-meals--to maintain energy levels and moods more even.

Suggestions for a Diet that Promotes Meth Recovery:
1. Use the USDA's Food Guide Pyramid as a guide to prepare well-balanced meals
2. Eat 3 snacks and 3 meals per day
3. Drink decaffeinated coffee and herbal teas to decrease caffeine
4. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables
5. Eat foods made of whole grains
6. Eat more beans and grain products; limit the amount of red meat eaten. Red meats are harder to digest.
7. Eliminate or keep to a minimum foods that contain sugar and caffeine
8. Be aware of hidden sugar in cocoa, condiments, and over the counter medications
9. Be aware of caffeine in over the counter and prescribed medications

USDA's My Food Guide Pyramid Brochure can be found here in PDF format for download or visit the US Dept. Of Agriculture for more nutrition info.


Suggested Recovery-friendly Diet:
• Protein - 25%
• Carbohydrate - 45%
• Fat - 30%
• Total calories - 2,000

Sample Meal Suggestions:
• Breakfast - oatmeal muffins, pancakes, quiche, omelet, yogurt
• Lunch - Sandwiches, salads, soups
• Dinner - Soups, chowders, rice & beans, chicken and vegetables, tortillas, lasagna with vegetable
• Dessert - Yogurt, fruit


During recovery from substance abuse, dehydration is common and it is important to emphasize adequate intake of fluids during and in between meals. Appetite usually returns during recovery, which may cause a tendency to overeat, particularly for people who were taking stimulants. At the beginning of recovery weight should really not be a source of worry for most recovering addicts and weight issues may have contributed to the addiction in the first place. The person should be instructed to consume healthy meals and snacks and to avoid high-calorie foods with low nutritional value, if possible.If there is an accompanying eating disorder, this Must be addressed with a qualified professional.

Be sure to talk to your doctor or dietitian for specifics for your situation and condition. Recovering meth addicts will have different needs depending on their situation. The suggestions here are just a guideline and nutrition for the recovering meth addict should ultimately fall into the hands of a well qualified professional.

Nutrition For Recovering Meth Addicts: Foods For Recovery Part 2

Good nutrition is a vital part of the repair occurring in by the body of a person recovering from a meth addiction. Food provides nutrients necessary to meet this need. Providing three nutritious meals may not be enough. Snacks not only aid with blood sugar levels, they can play an important role to help the person in recovery to meet their nutritional needs as well as limit moods swings. Snacks can be provided midday between meals and before bedtime.

Good Snack Choices For Nutrition For Recovering Meth Addicts:
• Fresh fruit
• Canned fruit packed in its own juice
• Raw vegetables with low-fat dressing or salsa
• Popcorn (air popped preferably)
• Pretzels
• Cheese and crackers
• Low fat puddings
• Cottage cheese and fruit
• Low-fat yogurt
• Raisins and other dried fruit
• 100% fruit juice
• Low-fat frozen yogurt

Bad Snack Choices For Nutrition For Recovering Meth Addicts:
* Canned fruit in heavy syrup
* Potato chips
* Corn chips
* Ice cream
* Cookies
* Candy
* Soda pop
* Cake, donuts
* Fruit drinks, punch
* Brownies, pastries

Meth addiction and abuse ravages the body and nutrition for recovery meth addicts can play a large role in the recovery process. In following parts of this series we will look at the nutrition for a recovering meth addict in more detail as well as provide resources to get your nutritional need on track.

Nutrition For Recovering Meth Addicts: Foods For Recovery Part 1

Abusers of meth may stay up for days at a time and suffer dehydration and electrolyte imbalances during these prolonged episodes as well as liver damage and malnutrition. Meth addiction and abuse ravages the body and nutrition for recovery meth addicts can play a large role in the recovery process.

Return to normal diet can be difficult if there has been profound weight loss. Regular mealtimes are recommended daily. A meal plan that focuses on a low-fat diet, with increased intake of protein, complex carbohydrates, and dietary fiber is recommended. Due to deficiencies in vitamins caused by irregular eating habits during the period of meth abuse, supplementation with vitamins and minerals during recovery may be helpful. Specific vitamins supplementation may include B-complex, zinc, and vitamins A and C.

Make sure you're eating the right kind of fats. Yes, you do need Good fats.

Recommendations For Fats:
• Choose lean, protein-rich foods such as soy, fish, skinless chicken, very lean meat, and fat free or 1% dairy products.
• Eat foods that are naturally low in fat such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.
• Get plenty of soluble fiber such as oats, bran, dry peas, beans, cereal, and rice.
• Limit fried foods, processed foods, and commercially prepared baked goods (donuts, cookies, crackers).
• Limit animal products such as egg yolks, cheeses, whole milk, cream, ice cream, and fatty meats (and large portions of meats).
• Look at food labels, especially the level of saturated fat. Avoid or limit foods high in saturated fat.
• Look on food labels for words like "hydrogenated" or "partially hydrogenated" -- these foods are loaded with bad fats and should be avoided.
• Liquid vegetable oil, soft margarine, and trans fatty acid-free margarine are preferable to butter, stick margarine, or shortening.
Food Sources For Complex Carbohydrates:
Complex carbohydrates, often referred to as "starchy" foods, include:
• Whole grain breads and cereals
• Starchy vegetables
• Legumes

Relapse to using meth is also more likely when blood sugar levels fluctuate due to the irregular intake of food, which is why regular meals are so important. Meth addicts often forget what it's like to be hungry and instead interpret this feeling as a drug craving, so they should be encouraged to consider the possibility that they may be hungry when cravings become strong. Yet another reason why nutrition for recovering meth addicts is so important.

Foods To Help Keep Blood Sugar Normal:
Help to keep your blood sugar level steady by eating frequent meals and snacks. Health suggestions for snacks:

• Dried fruits and nuts
• Whole-grain crackers or bread with peanut butter
• Yogurt
• Fruit
• Low-fat cheese or cottage cheese
• A baked potato
• Cut veggies with low-cal dip
• A hard-boiled egg
• Hummus and pita slices

Meth addiction and abuse ravages the body and nutrition for recovery meth addicts can play a large role in the recovery process. In following parts of this series we will look at the foods, meal plans, snacks and more resources that aid in the nutrition for a recovering meth addict in more detail.

Nutrition For Recovering Meth Addicts: Restoring Liver Function Part 2

Stimulant use, including use of crack, cocaine, and methamphetamine, can result in a significant decrease in appetite, weight loss, and eventual malnutrition as well as decreased liver function. When one is trying to recover from a meth addiction, nutrition for the recovering meth addict is of utmost importance.

Liver Detox Through Foods

The liver has 2 pathways for detoxifying. Which pathway that will be used depends on the person, their liver function, substance of choice (meth and others) and general health.

Foods that activate the Phase I pathway for detox are:
• Cabbage, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts.
• High protein foods such as meat, fish and eggs.
• Oranges and tangerines (but not grapefruit)
• Caraway and dill seeds

Foods that activate the Phase II pathway for detox are:
• Cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts.
• Asparagus, avocado, walnuts
• Fish oils
• Foods containing limonene - oranges, tangerines, caraway and dill seeds.

One of the most important detox pathways in Phase II uses the amino acid glutathione. Asparagus, watermelon, broccoli are good sources of glutathione while papayas and avocados are foods that help the body to produce glutathione. Other sources are Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, kale, bok choy, cress, mustard, horseradish, turnips, rutabagas (swede), kohlrabi, red beets.

Generally fresh fruits and vegetables contain from 25mg up to 750mg glutathione per pound so they are recommended in abundance for nutrition for recovering meth addicts.

The debate about eating meat to get the amino acids that are needed for other liver detoxification routes is active. Some authorities say that red meat is needed to detoxify chemicals but others say that the vegetarian diet with its complementary proteins such as rice with lentils or beans provide the same amino acids. There is not one diet that is right for everyone. Some people do indeed need meat and will not thrive on a vegetarian diet so talk to your doctor or dietician.

Meth addiction and abuse ravages the body and nutrition for recovery meth addicts can play a large role in the recovery process. In following parts of this series we will look at the foods, meal plans, snacks and more resources that aid in the nutrition for a recovering meth addict in more detail.

Nutrition For Recovering Meth Addicts: Restoring Liver Function Part 1

Recovery from meth abuse involves many different components, including proper organ functioning, assuring mental well being and proper metabolism.


A huge factor in the healing process is proper nutrient supply. Nutrients are essential for not only for energy, but also to keep the immune system strong. Recovery from substance abuse results in additional demands on the body -- including metabolism (processing energy), organ function, and mental well being. Restoring liver function for a recovering meth addict is very important.

Be sure to check with your doctor to make sure you will not be doing your body further damage as each person recovering from meth addiction will have different needs depending on their state of health, their period of use and how far they are into recovery.

Restoring Liver Function Through Diet

When helping the liver to recover from meth addiction try and limit the amount of dairy produce you consume, especially full-cream milk and cheese (remember this is just a short-term measure... these foods can be introduced back into your diet again after the liver detox which is recommended for 2 weeks). Also avoid starchy foods like potatoes, bread and rice.

Keep your intake of salt and saturated fats low and avoid processed foods, sugar, and caffeine. Instead, eat plenty of fish, meat, poultry, eggs, green vegetables, fruit, beans, nuts and seeds. Essential fatty acids are particularly beneficial so eat more avocados and have cold-pressed oils, such as olive oil, sunflower oil and linseed oil.

Fiber is vital in helping to eliminate toxins, such as meth residue from your body in your bile - otherwise these are simply re-absorbed. And remember to drink at least eight glasses of water a day to help flush harmful toxins from your body.

There are certain natural compounds, found in foods or manufactured by your body, that are strongly 'lipotropic' - meaning they remove toxins and bad fats from your liver and allow it to function normally again which is helpful for the recovering meth addict.

One such substance is a derivative of the amino acid methionine, called s-adenosyl methionine (or SAMe). It is normally produced in your liver, from methionine, folic acid and vitamin B12. However, it stops being produced in sufficient quantities if your liver is clogged up with toxins and fats that can collect due to addiction.

SAMe protects your liver from the effects of harmful chemicals such as meth, which must pass through your liver to be detoxified. It also promotes the flow of bile, which is essential for the digestion of fats and for the absorption of the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K.Taking supplements of SAMe has been found to help restore normal liver function, even in people with more serious liver diseases such as hepatitis. Recommended dosage: 400mg of SAMe a day.

Phosphatidyl choline and inositol can remove toxic deposits from your liver an aid in meth recovery as well. Phosphatidyl choline (PC) is essential for the healthy functioning of all the cells in your body, and is particularly beneficial for your liver.Like SAMe, PC also protects your liver from the damaging effects of toxins, alcohol and drugs. It is needed for the proper metabolism of fats and has the ability to remove fat from the liver.

The best dietary sources of PC are eggs, liver and other organ meats, soya beans, nuts and wheat germ. One can also take either one tablespoon of lecithin granules, 4,800mg of lecithin concentrate or 2,500mg of pure phosphatidyl choline a day.

Stimulant use, including use of crack, cocaine, and methamphetamine, can result in a significant decrease in appetite, weight loss, and eventual malnutrition. When one is trying to recover from a meth addiction, nutrition for the recovering meth addict is of utmost importance.

In following parts of this series we will look at the foods, meal plans, snacks and more resources that aid in the nutrition for a recovering meth addict in more detail. And always remember to check with your doctor, dietitian or homeopath before beginning any regimen.