Quick Links for Nutrition in Early Recovery:

• Introduction
• Withdrawal Symptoms & Remedies
• Heal & Nourish
• Decrease Inflammation
• Neurological Healing
• Nutrient Deficiencies & Mental Health
• Teach Healthy Habits
• Recipes for Recovery

Food that supports brain health

• Green, leafy vegetables. Leafy greens such as kale, spinach, collards, and broccoli are rich in brain-healthy nutrients like vitamin K, lutein, folate, and beta carotene. Research suggests these plant-based foods may help slow cognitive decline.
• Fatty fish. Fatty fish are abundant sources of omega-3 fatty acids, healthy unsaturated fats that have been linked to lower blood levels of beta-amyloid—the protein that forms damaging clumps in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease. Try to eat fish at least twice a week, but choose varieties that are low in mercury, such as salmon, cod, canned light tuna, and pollack. If you're not a fan of fish, ask your doctor about taking an omega-3 supplement, or choose terrestrial omega-3 sources such as flaxseeds, avocados, and walnuts.
• Berries. Flavonoids, the natural plant pigments that give berries their brilliant hues, also help improve memory, research shows. A study done by researchers at Harvard's Brigham and Women's Hospital found that women who consumed two or more servings of strawberries and blueberries each week delayed memory decline by up to two-and-a-half years.
• Tea and coffee. The caffeine in your morning cup of coffee or tea might offer more than just a short-term concentration boost. In a 2014 study published in The Journal of Nutrition, participants with higher caffeine consumption scored better on tests of mental function. Caffeine might also help solidify new memories, according to other research. Investigators at Johns Hopkins University asked participants to study a series of images and then take either a placebo or a 200-milligram caffeine tablet. More members of the caffeine group were able to correctly identify the images on the following day.
• Walnuts. Nuts are excellent sources of protein and healthy fats, and one type of nut in particular might also improve memory. A 2015 study from UCLA linked higher walnut consumption to improved cognitive test scores. Walnuts are high in a type of omega-3 fatty acid called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Diets rich in ALA and other omega-3 fatty acids have been linked to lower blood pressure and cleaner arteries. That's good for both the heart and brain.

Food that supports hormone release

All of the food and nutrients that we suggested earlier help with proper hormone release, with one add on here, Zinc.  Zinc when taken in the evening helps the body with corrective, natural hormone release, as well as keeps our immune system a little stronger.

Food that supports muscle growth

Protein, pure and simple.

Meditation

Meditation in any form will be helpful.  I am trained in MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) and I find that to be the most beneficial for early and continued recovery.  More information on MBSR check here.

Brain games

Brain games like Lumosity can be extremely helpful, but in the beginning that may seem a bit overwhelming.  How about starting with something like a puzzle.