It’s certainly an interesting time to be in recovery – adjusting to a new normal is difficult thanks to COVID-19, which is making life anything but normal. One thing we often suggest as a way to ease into your new, addiction-free lifestyle is eating in a way that will support you through recovery.
Now, during the pandemic, health experts are recommending that people eat in a way that supports their immune system to help avoid getting sick.
Does this mean you’ll have to choose between a diet that will protect you against COVID-19 and a diet that will help you recover?
The answer is no: a lot of natural foods are high in multiple nutrients, so one food can serve a dual purpose: helping you avoid sickness while supporting recovery.
As always, it’s best to chat with a healthcare practitioner before making any major changes to your diet.
Eating for Health
To fight off COVID-19 (or any other virus), you’ll want to eat foods that help keep your immune system in shape.
Important vitamins and minerals for immune support include:
- Vitamin C – find it in bell peppers, kale, broccoli, citrus fruits such as oranges, and more.
- Zinc – find it in cashews, eggs, mussels, oysters, beef, and more.
- Magnesium – find it in leafy greens, nuts, seeds, whole grains such as brown rice, and more.
Eating for Recovery
The best foods to choose for recovery are foods that will help support your brain and body to heal from any damage done by substance use.
Important vitamins and minerals for recovery include:
- Sulfur to help your liver detox – find it in eggs, broccoli, avocado, onions, garlic, and more.
- Antioxidants to help your liver heal – find them in berries, nuts, spinach, and seafood
- B vitamins to replenish deficiencies caused by substance use – find them in kale, beans, chickpeas, and more.
For more details on eating for recovery, check out our previous posts here and here.
There’s no guarantee that any one diet will prevent you from getting sick. However, food is one of the most important tools for staying healthy, so be sure to eat as well as you can to support your body.
The bottom line? You can’t go wrong when you have a varied diet high in fresh veggies, fruits, and other natural, clean foods. Not only do they support your immune system in fighting off viruses, but they help your brain and body heal, too.
Check out our other resources for your recovery during COVID-19: continuing group sessions online, managing loneliness, and improving motivation to prevent boredom.