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Nutrition
Why is it important?
It is not uncommon for people to experience a decrease or an increase in their usual appetite during benzodiazepine withdrawal.
A healthy diet can impact positively on energy levels, concentration and a healthy body that can cope better with withdrawal.
Benzodiazepines (or ‘benzos’) have been known to effect absorption of important vitamins and minerals. In addition to this the body undergoes significant changes during withdrawal, both physical and psychological.
The process of benzodiazepine withdrawal can be very stressful for body and mind. It is important, therefore, to ensure that the body has an adequate supply of essential nutrients.
Some tips
Try the following to ensure adequate nutrition and energy levels during withdrawal:
- If three large meals a day are difficult to accommodate, eat regular small meals, every couple of hours.
- Try to avoid refined foods that contain sugar, white flour and foods with artificial flavours and colours.
- Fruits, vegetables, almonds, cashews, sesame, sunflower and pumpkin seeds are good to eat plenty of during withdrawal.
- Eat lots of wholegrains and vegetables, with protein such as meat, chicken or fish daily.
- Eat fresh fruit and fruit juices.
- Keep some dried fruit and nuts handy if you get hungry
- Avoid alcohol, cigarettes and caffeine.
- Caffeine stimulates the adrenal glands and increases heart rate, blood pressure.
- Caffeine also hinders absorption of vitamins (particularly B and C) and minerals (particularly magnesium and iron).
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