Thrive Holistic Nutrition and Wellness created this series of articles with the purpose of educating and empowering people to understand the disruptive biochemical and digestive issues associated with drug and alcohol addiction, and the important role of nutrition. It is content designed for those touched by addiction, or to anyone who falls within the addiction spectrum, including those recovering from addiction, those actively abusing substances, or individuals at high risk due to such things as family genetics.
Making the connection between nutrition and addiction
We believe nutrition can be the cornerstone of a comprehensive recovery program, or help those struggling with addiction to simply find a place to start. It is our hope that solid nutrition, and looking at underlying physiological issues, can begin to restore the normal function of the body and lead to a life of ‘Thriving’ rather than simply ‘surviving’. Whether in active addiction or recovery, it is our intent to educate and empower readers to begin making different dietary and lifestyle choices. The information presented in this series outlines some of the underlying ‘causes and conditions’ of addiction.
As individuals, we are all biochemically unique, what works for one person may not work for another, and for this reason it is important to work directly with a trained holistic nutritionist. To meet the unique biochemical needs of each individual and help the body’s innate ability to heal itself, trained holistic nutritionists can perform an array of individualized testing and provide specific nutritional recommendations.
Traditional Recovery Programs Have Some Limitations
Many 12-step treatment recovery programs only produce around a 10% rate of success.[1] 12-step programs touch on many useful items including spiritual, emotional, service work, and unity (to name a few). However, twelve step programs do very little to illuminate how to correct underlying physiological aspects of addiction. The ‘Big Book’ of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), originally written in 1939 with revisions through 2001, states that ‘when the spiritual malady is overcome, we straighten out mentally and physically’.[2] Other than by spiritual means and abstinence, which for many is a primary source of recovery, there is no specific instruction for correcting the normal function of the body and restoring biochemical and digestive issues. In mentioning this it is not intended to disparage programs such as AA, but instead to point out that we have learned much more about the physical component of addiction since the book Alcoholics Anonymous was written 80 years ago. Psychological and spiritual approaches are valuable in many ways, but many recovery professionals have not found them to be very effective at eliminating addiction, unless they are combined with nutritional rehabilitation.[3] The idea of nutritional plans for addiction is intended to supplement and complement recovery programs, such as AA or any other 12-step programs, with information that looks deeper at the physical aspects of addiction and the role nutrition can play. Even with current scientific knowledge about underlying issues of addiction, most 12-step treatment recovery programs do very little to provide individualized care to assess and correct unique biochemical and physiological needs. As a result, many do not make the ‘full recovery’ needed to avoid future relapse.
Bill Wilson, co-founder of AA, was onto the need for nutrition many years earlier. One of Bill’s acquaintances and friends, doctor Abram Hofer (pioneer in the field of alternative health who authored over 500 scientific publications and 15 clinical nutrition books) was quoted as saying in 2010 that he met Bill many years earlier and went on to prescribe him niacin (vitamin B3) with positive results. Dr. Hofer was asked by Pam Killeen, in her book Addicton- The Hidden Epidemic, ‘what are the limitations of pyscho-spiritual approaches such as AA?’ Dr. Hofer responded by saying ‘the 12-step program can be very helpful. People in AA may not be drinking, but unfortunately, they are not well. That’s what Bill Wilson realized. He knew that they weren’t well and knew that they needed good nutrition in order to fully recover.’[4]
Understanding the Biochemical Causes of Addiction
With our background and familiarity in alcoholism, the research presented here may be slanted more to alcoholics than other addictions. However, it is our hope to cover a wide range of topics as it relates to substance abuse and nutrition. It’s an exciting time in the field of nutrition and addiction, with science frequently presenting a myriad of research and potential solutions! We urge individuals and family members touched by substance abuse to educate and empower themselves. Note that ‘active addiction’ and ‘active substance abuse’ is often mentioned in this article as it is intended to be non-discriminatory and non-judgmental to individuals on the addiction spectrum, whether sober or not. It is our hope that by incorporating the nutritional protocols discussed here that persons actively addicted may eventually find recovery, or those in recovery find a ‘full recovery’.
For those addicted to substances, it often is not their fault! They are simply ‘self-medicating’ to overcome biochemical and digestive issues. An example of this is a genetic condition called pyroluria, which is present in approximately 45% of alcoholics.[5][6][7] When states of addiction, stress, anxiety and inner tension are chronic, it may be due to this genetic condition which blocks the absorption of certain nutrients to the brain. In the condition, excess pyrroles deplete levels of such things as zinc and vitamin B6. Vitamin B6 is involved in more bodily functions than almost any other single nutrient, including both physical and mental health. It is linked to the production of hydrochloric acid and absorption of fats and protein, and deficiencies can lead to such things as depression, dizziness, fatigue, hyperirritability, impaired healing, learning difficulties, impaired memory or memory loss, and hair loss, to name a few.[8] Think about that, B6 is responsible for so much in the body! Can you see how helping alleviate depression alone could help with addiction? Until it is addressed, pyroluria can prevent full response to nutrienst, and can certainly underlie addiction and lead to a ‘failure to thrive’ in recovery. As much as 10% of the population may have this metabolic condition and not even know it, and may have lifelong symptoms which tend to worsen with stress and age.[9] When we take a holistic approach to addiction we uncover a whole world of ‘causative factors’. These factors are often not the addicted person’s fault, apart from epigenetic factors. (Talk further to Thrive for a simple questionaire that can evaluate whether pyroluria is a factor for you!)
While one might even say with truth, ‘no one can make you drink alcohol or take drugs’, there is a point at which a substance becomes a necessity to survive, or feel ‘normal’, rather than a luxury. Nutrition can help put many ‘back on track’ and get the body functioning normally.
‘Although we all eat, few really think about what we are eating and what it can do to our bodies. We rely on very incomplete, simplistic, and often incorrect bits of nutritional “knowledge” in making our food choices, and we expect our bodies to cope with whatever we give them. In recovery, this kind of behavior simply doesn’t cut it.’ -Dr. Beasley[10]
Note that much of this information may also be useful to a wide range of people who work or live with recovering addicts, and hope to support these individuals. Or, this information can be for anyone who consumes a “standard American diet” (SAD) heavy in refined carbohydrates, sugar, caffeine and low in fiber, healthy fats and depleted of important nutrients. For those skeptical when it comes to nutrition in the field of addiction, we would urge readers to consider what author Herbert Spencer said:
‘There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannon fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance- that principle is contempt prior to investigation.”[11]
It’s Not Your Fault! Please feel free to reach out to Thrive for more information on recovery from addiction. Or feel free to contact us for other nutritional questions you may have.
Read Part 2 in our nutrition for addiction and recovery series
Citations:
[1] Julia Ross, M.A.; The Mood Cure; 2002, 252-253
[2] Alcoholics Anonymous, 2001, fourth edition, page 64
[3] Julia Ross, M.A.; The Mood Cure; 2002, 251
[4] Pam Killeen, Addiction- The Hidden Epidemic, 2010, 166
[5] http://joanmathewslarson.com/HRC_2006/Depression_06/D_Hide_In_Closet.htm#pyrotreatment
[6] http://www.primalbody-primalmind.com/do-you-have-pyroluria/
[7] Julia Ross, M.A.; The Mood Cure; 2002, 272
[8] Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, Prescription for Nutritional Healing, fifth edition, 2010, 22
[9] http://www.primalbody-primalmind.com/do-you-have-pyroluria/
[10] Beasley, Joseph D., M.D. and Susan Knightly. Food for Recovery, 1994, 53