KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (RFD News) — University of Tennessee Extension’s Nourish Recovery program is helping people in addiction recovery understand how nutrition can support the healing process.
Kristin Riggsbee with UT Extension helped establish the program. She said people struggling with addiction often neglect proper nutrition.
“There can be weight changes as they get back to health. There’s actually a lot of nutritional deficiencies too because a lot of times people are replacing food with their substance of choice.”
Riggsbee said Nourish Recovery encourages participants to make healthy eating part of their recovery, noting that physical health is often overlooked while the focus remains on emotional and mental wellness.
“A lot of the focus in these drug recovery centers is on the emotional and mental wellness of that patient, and sometimes that physical piece gets kind of lost in the mix, right? But it is. It is so critical. We know that when we eat good food, we feel better.”
The program was funded through a University of Tennessee Grand Challenges grant and piloted in Davidson County and six rural counties.
UT Extension said Nourish Recovery reached more than 150 people during its first year and is pursuing additional federal funding to expand the program.
