Dec. CGR | Nutritional Impact of SUD on the Body & How to Eat a Well-balanced Diet to Help Recovery

Dr. Ashley DeBella-Marques, a seasoned Clinical Dietitian and founder of Food is Fuel, LLC, brings over adecade of experience crafting personalized nutrition strategies. With a Doctorate in Clinical Nutrition and a Master's in Nutrition, she specializes in transformative wellness solutions, empowering individuals to reclaim vitality. Dr. DeBella-Marques has a proven track record in spearheading innovative nutritional initiatives, specializing in eating disorders, diabetes education, and chronic disease management. Passionate about holistic wellness, she combines evidence-based counseling with pioneering education to drive lasting lifestyle transformations.
Synopsis & Objectives:
A dietitian’s role in treating individuals with substance use disorders is as an adjunct to formal therapy that attempts to restore an individual’s physical health, reverse damage to the system produced by malnutrition, and help the individual to feel healthy and energetic in order to face the challenges of recovery. Medical Nutrition Therapy for substance use disorders (MNT for substance use disorders) is a form of nutrition-based therapy provided by a dietitian.
These MNT components will include:
Focuses on stabilizing the client’s mood and reducing stress through sound nutritional practices
Is designed to nourish and heal bodily systems that have been damaged by the abuse of alcohol or drugs
Attempts to assist in the reduction of cravings for alcohol and/or drugs
Addresses medical conditions that have may resulted from substance abuse, such as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
Encourages the development of positive self-care routines and a healthy lifestyle that can foster recovery from a substance use disorder.