Many women affected by drug or alcohol addiction also have a history or significant dietary problems. Some of these problems are not serious enough to qualify as eating disorders. However, diagnosable eating disorders are also common. If you’re affected by a severe nutritional issue and addiction, you need treatment for both conditions. Nutrient guides help you meet this pressing need. Do programs such as these really work? In many cases, the answer to this question is a resounding yes.
What Is Nutrient Therapy?
What is nutrient therapy? It’s one of two terms used to describe professional nutrition support services. The second is nutritional therapy. Regardless of the term in use, this form of treatment includes things such as:
- Education on the importance of proper nutrition
- Help establishing a balanced, nutrient-rich diet
- Support creating a regular eating pattern
- Provision of any needed nutrient supplements
- Counseling for any specific issues related to food and eating
All high-quality nutrient therapy programs employ experienced specialists. Professionals working in this field include registered dietitians and certified nutrition therapists.
Nutrient Therapy for Women Affected By Addiction
There is a clearly established link between eating disorders and addiction. About a third of all people with serious drug or alcohol problems are affected. Unfortunately, women have elevated risks for all three of the most common eating disorders:
- Binge eating disorder
- Anorexia nervosa
- Bulimia nervosa
This means that women also have higher risks for combined disordered eating and addiction problems. Such problems are an example of something called dual diagnosis. This term is used for any combination of addiction and separate mental illness.
To recover from dual diagnosis, you need treatment for both problems affecting you. Frontline treatment options include both medication and psychotherapy. For women with eating disorders, they also include nutrition education.
Even if you don’t have an eating disorder, you may need nutrient therapy. Why? Many women have what is known as subclinical eating problems. These problems don’t meet the criteria for an official diagnosis of disordered eating. Nevertheless, they harm your well-being in some way. For example, you may have a pattern of avoiding eating without qualifying for an anorexia diagnosis. Nutrient therapy can help you address this kind of issue and prevent it from worsening.
Nutrient Therapy Program Benefits
Does nutrient therapy for women affected by addiction provide a real benefit? If you have nutrition-related problems, it typically does. There are two main nutrient therapy program benefits. First, it helps you correct some of the nutritional issues common among people with serious substance problems. Issues of this type include extremely poor dietary habits. They also include clinical nutrient deficiencies.
Nutrient therapy can also provide a more general form of support. As a rule, addiction is reinforced by unhealthy habits of body and mind. When you eat properly, you can begin to undo many of these habits. That’s true because healthy eating promotes both physical and mental well-being.
Not all women in addiction treatment need nutrient therapy. In addition, the therapy may work better for some women than for others. Still, overall, this form of treatment comes with substantial advantages.
Turn to Women’s Recovery for Quality Nutrient Therapy for Women
Do you think you or your loved one may need nutrient therapy? Talk to the specialists at Women’s Recovery. We feature this therapy as part of our many addiction services. With our help, you can determine if it’s an option that is right for you. Treatment is customized to your specific condition and nutritional need in all cases. Call us today at 833.754.0554 for more information on our nutrient therapy program benefits or reach out through our online form.
