Very often, people are exposed to harmful substances that lure them into trying them, even when they know it causes harm. Substance abuse is one such step that many of us take, not realizing how vindictive it actually is for us.
People who are addicted to drug abuse and alcoholism need to go through proper treatment for complete cure and rehabilitation. But along with medications and rehab living, they also need to eat the right kind of food.
According to studies, researchers proclaim that there are certain kinds of food that promote cell repair. These produce neurotransmitters and can reverse brain damage from alcohol and drug abuse.
Most people don’t realize that the fate of their health is because of their own choice and not genetic. Moreover, good food can work like medicine and can even change the impact of our genes.
Best types of food to fight substance abuse
Brain cells experience damage not only due to alcohol and drugs but also due to environmental factors. You need to have a healthy exercise and diet routine to fight every form of brain pollutant to stay fit and healthy:
1. Turmeric root
One of the best natural substance abuse treatment is consuming turmeric root. This plan has a high level of curcumin and works as a strong antioxidant. It has a high level of anti-inflammatory content and is one of the most natural compounds to find.
Several studies suggest that curcumin yields about 150 potential medical benefits and can leave a positive impact on 700 genes.
Curcumin crosses our blood-barrier to prevent neuron damage along with other neurological disorders. It also boosts memory and improves regeneration of new brain cells. According to studies, curcumin can naturally prevent depression as it increases the level of dopamine and serotonin.
According to a study, curcumin has resulted to be a great antidepressant. A research was done on 60 patients and they were divided into three groups. One group consumed curcumin every day, while the second one consumed Prozac. The third group was given doses of both curcumin and Prozac. After six weeks, the first group was found to have antidepressant effects compared to people in the Prozac group. (Xanax) The research also ended by stating that people should rather stick to only curcumin rather than trying both.
Turmeric is one of the readily available superfoods in the market. You can buy them with the whole root. You can shred and mince it to add it to soups. Also, try stir-frying it sometimes or add it to different dishes. Use it as a powdered spice in your regular recipes too.
Your doctor can recommend you to buy capsules that contain curcumin or use liquid extract. You can easily simmer it in boiling water to add it to tea.
2. Broccoli
Broccoli is one of the healthiest green veggies to add to your diet. They enhance cognitive thinking, memory skills, and nourishes our brain. It is a great source of vitamin K and is rich in lignans, and both of these nutrients better cognitive functioning.
Broccoli contents a high level of antioxidant that makes it good for the brain. According to lab studies, antioxidant nutrients protect our brain cells from inflammatory damages from neurotoxic elements like marijuana, opiates, cocaine, alcohol, and more.
The vegetable also has great glucosinolates content that helps acetylcholine level reduce. Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that our body lacks when we drink alcohol and take drugs. It also makes us more anxious and often lead to severe medical conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
3. Berries
If you’d rather resort to fruits to recover from an addictive tendency, you should turn to berries. They are rich in antioxidant content and include phytochemicals that enhance thinking ability, memory, and learning skills. It also prevents our brain from cellular corrosion caused by free radicals.
Compared to most other fruits, berries are low in sugar level, making it one of the healthiest diet options. If you eat berries regularly, it helps your body and brain naturally detoxify. The process reduces cellular damage and keeps you fit.
4. Celery
Celery contains high levels of luteolin that minimize brain inflammation. This is the basic cause of neurodegeneration. Researches were done on mice to prove luteolin fights memory loss, and it did work.
Celery is a wonderful source of vitamin K and antioxidants. You should often make raw celery juice and have it during lunch to keep yourself healthy.
5. Garbanzo Beans
These special beans add adequate magnesium to our body that strengthens our brain cell receptors. It improves the speed of our intracellular communication that makes the neurochemical messages transfer information from one cell to another. The magnesium content also improves blood circulation and flow to our brain and that relaxes blood vessels.
6. Red meat
Although many people say that red meat is not the best kind of nutrition for our body and mind, grass-fed meat can actually be useful. They have rich vitamin B12 content that is important for the functioning of our brain.
According to studies, people with vitamin B12 deficiency were fed grass-fed red meat and the results showed a higher level of B12 level and less possibility of brain shrinkage.
7. Seeds and nuts
Two of the best food types that promote healthy brain functioning are seeds and nuts. They are great to reduce signs of substance abuse disorder as they have high amino acid and fiber content. They are also rich in phytosterols, antioxidants, omega-3 fats, and B-vitamins. These nourish and rejuvenate our brain and restores it back in its normal state. Nuts include zinc that improves memory and cognitive skills.
8. Coconut oil
The superfood of coconut offers us several benefits and we have innumerable ways to make use of coconut. The oil form includes ketones that prevent aging and shrinkage of our brain. As per substance abuse evaluation the oil promotes brain functioning.
Coconut oil also improves lauric acid – a rare acid found in nature. Researchers call it a “miracle component” because it comes with antibacterial and antiviral properties. As per research, this component makes lives easier for patients suffering from dementia, HIV, influenza, measles, herpes, cancer, and Alzheimer’s.
Final thoughts
If you know someone who is a victim of addiction, spread the concept of substance abuse awareness. Your contribution can save lives and restore good health, so do the little that you can!
