Teen Nutrition
Healthy nutrition is a critical concern for well-being, no matter what age and gender. This is particularly true for children and adolescents as their body tissues and brain are in a dramatic stage of growth and development. This fact is reflected by the higher dietary intake for protein, vitamins, and other micronutrients during adolescence. Moreover, adolescent girls who are drug dependent and/or who have an eating disorder have multiple nutritional deficiencies, including deficiencies of calcium, iron, and folate. Calcium is a critical component of brain health, as well as the major constituent of bone. Iron deficiency is a major cause of anemia in adolescent girls. The B vitamin folate is also critical to brain health, including cognitive function.
Newport Academy provides specialized nutritional treatments for adolescent girls who are in recovery for drug dependence, depression and eating disorders. The Academy is committed to state-of the-art nutritional services including specialized menu planning and the use of organic foods and multiple education strategies regarding healthy nutrition. In addition to meeting the macronutrient needs for high quality protein and fat, Newport Academy provides nutritional supplements such as pharmaceutical grade fish oil to optimize brain health and recovery.
Special attention is made to carbohydrate intake in all patients. A considerable amount of scientific research suggests that we do best when our blood glucose levels are moderate and sustained, as opposed to being hypoglycemic or hyperglycemic. For example, hypoglycemia is a major cause of relapse in recovering, drug dependent individuals. As such, an emphasis is made in serving whole grains, fruits, and vegetables that yield a moderate but sustained effect on blood glucose.
Adolescents are in a dramatic state of growth and development including: muscle mass, bone, and brain tissue as well as a wide variety of hormones during and after puberty. Research has confirmed that in most individuals the brain is not fully developed until the lower twenties. This includes the protective myelin membrane surrounding neurons. Any condition or disease that disrupts proper nutrition in childhood or adolescence can result in impaired growth and development. This is particularly true in cases of adolescent drug dependence, depression, and eating disorders.
Newport Academy employs several different strategies to increase the nutritional well being of all of its residents. Each resident is encouraged and taught to be an active participant in their nutritional health as part of their own recovery.
The nutritional strategies include:
1. Cooking: all residents are taught cooking skills
2. Education: all residents are taught about healthy nutrition
3. One-on-one nutritional counseling
4. Providing nutritious, healthy meals and snacks
5. Supplements: to optimize brain health and recovery
6. Family counseling on nutrition: family members are also instructed about healthy meals
Newport Academy provides a highly qualified staff to coordinate meal planning and to assess the specific dietary needs of all residents. The nutritional staff includes a clinical nutritionist (Jeffrey L. Fortuna, Dr.P.H.), a registered dietician, and a certified organic chef.
