While the abstinence stage of withdrawal causes mostly physical symptoms, post-acute withdrawal is very psychological and emotional. Kudzu is a plant in traditional medicine whose flowers and roots are used to treat conditions like alcoholism. Experts believe its activity as an isoflavonoid, plant-based estrogen or phytoestrogen might be responsible for its effects. Once addiction has forced changes in the brain, however, it damages neuroplasticity and makes it much harder to adapt to sobriety. Additionally, the adaptations that the brain develops disrupt crucial neuropathways, decreasing neurotransmitters and their ability to move normally through the brain. It eases inflammation and protects the thin layer that surrounds your brain cells, called the cell membrane.
What are the Stats On Rehab and Recovery?
Critical examples include facilitating brain function, improving mood, flushing out toxins and transferring nutrients between cells. People who abuse alcohol typically do not pay attention to nutrition. Even those who were formerly healthy tend to let their good eating habits go as they become more consumed with vanderburgh house the need to find and drink alcohol. This creates a two-fold nutritional problem because even if someone does manage to eat healthfully and get all their nutrients, alcohol prevents them from being fully absorbed. Caring for your whole self as you overcome alcohol addiction is critical to lasting success.
Marijuana and Nutrition
Antioxidants are necessary for avoiding free radical-induced cellular damage. Vitamin E is a lipid-soluble vitamin that is carried as a component of lipoprotein, and efficiently reduces peroxidation susceptibility both in in vivo and in vitro assays [93,94]. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of Sober Recovery’s “Terms of Use”, “Privacy Policy”, “Cookie Policy”, and “Health Disclaimer”. The material on this site is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by a qualified health care provider.
- Hospitals often administer IV vitamin B-1 to alcoholics suspected of being at risk for Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome.
- Lack of these nutrients can result in anemia, which makes the sufferer feel cold, lethargic and frequently dizzy.
- Take our short alcohol quiz to learn where you fall on the drinking spectrum and if you might benefit from quitting or cutting back on alcohol.
- Alcohol interferes with the digestion and absorption of nutrients.
- Choline is an essential B vitamin that most people don’t consume enough of, because very few foods in the Western diet contain it.
Discuss Supplements With a Physician First
When someone stops drinking, their dopamine and serotonin levels are initially depleted, so it’s common for them to seek out other sources of comfort and pleasure to compensate. For many people in the withdrawal phase, this results in cravings for specific foods. Studies have also found that magnesium deficiency is very common in people dealing with alcohol addiction and withdrawal. And supplementing with magnesium diminishes withdrawal complications, reduces the severity of their withdrawal symptoms, and lowers their need for anti-anxiety medication (86, 87). Fish contains many healthy nutrients, prime among them omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D.
For the average person who is eating a well-balanced, healthy diet, supplements of vitamins B and C are often unnecessary. However, alcohol abusers will find that a holistic approach to recovery that integrates a nourishing diet and this type of vitamin supplementation helps them through the process. Concentrating on regaining good health can maximize the chances of success in recovery from addiction and set recovering alcoholics on the right path to a new life. Individuals who are in recovery from alcohol abuse can greatly benefit from a healthy diet coupled with a robust vitamin regimen.
Using Nutrition to Improve Neuroplasticity
Further, some supplements may have drug interactions with your existing medications or can worsen other current medical conditions. When recovering from alcohol addiction, fixing these nutrient deficiencies for your overall health is important. A personalized plan can help make the most of trauma symptoms of adult children of alcoholics nutritional therapy, so you may want to consider working with a dietitian. They’ll help you create a diet that addresses your unique health situation, weight, and personal diet needs. Ask your doctor for a referral, or contact your local hospital, community health center, or university.
Capsaicin is the component in the pepper that causes a burning sensation upon consumption. Capsaicin has also been shown to have pain-relieving and appetite-stimulating effects, both of which can be helpful in the early stages of withdrawal when many experience a lack of appetite. High-iron foods include shellfish, spinach, organ meat (like liver), legumes, pumpkin seeds, quinoa, turkey, broccoli, tofu, and red meat. I’ve learned with time, and with the proper information and resources, people can snap out of their addiction cycle and be happy and calm with themselves without mind-altering drugs and habits. And other research shows that long-term vitamin C deficiency contributes to nervousness and emotional instability.
Around 13% of alcoholics develop Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome, and almost all instances of this condition in developed countries are caused by intemperance. The chronic administration of vitamin C can also prevent the development of tolerance and physical dependence on morphine (59, 69). First of all, vitamin C levels are significantly lower in drug addicts (68). However, I still recommend at least short-term zinc supplementation to ensure you get enough. Some of the best food sources of zinc include oysters, grass-fed beef, pumpkin seeds, cashews, mushrooms and spinach. These foods are included in my Free Grocery Shopping Guide for Optimal Brain and Mental Health.
D-phenylalanine also slows the breakdown of endorphins, which act as the body’s natural painkiller, prolonging their release into the body. There’s no way around it—when you inhalant abuse drink heavily for a long period, your body takes a hit. Overcoming alcohol use disorder can be a long and difficult process, and different people have different needs.
Taking the first step and admitting you need help addressing your alcohol use can be the most difficult, most critical decision you’ll ever make. It’s common to feel defeated in the face of the many physical and mental health issues caused by excessive alcohol use, but it’s not too late to forge a path forward. I made this difficult decision myself many years ago, and today, I continue to encourage others to move away from alcohol use and toward healthier choices. This post is the sixth in a series on non-pharmacologic approaches for managing symptoms related to alcohol and drug abuse and withdrawal and decreasing the risk of relapse. Previous posts commented on evidence for natural supplements, weak electrical current, and mindfulness for reducing drug and alcohol use and treating symptoms of withdrawal. This post is offered as a concise review of the evidence for certain B-vitamins, vitamin C, magnesium, and zinc for reducing alcohol craving.
Further, kudzu does not affect sleep cycles and may start working after a single dose. Through alcohol intoxication, the CYP2E1-dependent system and the microsomal respiratory chain are the principal sources of reactive oxygen species (ROS) within the hepatocytes. Because of its propensity to metabolize and activate a variety of hepatotoxic substrates in the liver, CYP2E1 is of particular interest. Ethanol, carbon tetrachloride, acetaminophen, and N-nitrosodimethylamine, as well as several hazardous compounds, are among these substrates. In this view, the ethanol-induced activation of cytochrome CYP2E1 appears to be one of the main mechanisms by which ethanol causes oxidative stress. Furthermore, when ethanol is oxidized by CYP2E1, it creates acetaldehyde, a highly reactive molecule that may contribute to ethanol’s toxicity [25].
And in the case of alcoholism, alcohol is known to deplete zinc from the body. These 9 nutrients, vitamins and supplements have helped me minimize withdrawal symptoms, overcome my addictions, and get on with my life. N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) is the supplemental form of cysteine especially useful for boosting antioxidants in your body and improving brain function. Look for supplements containing NAC if you are having trouble consuming enough whole foods containing cysteine.
Because those who struggle with alcohol often have nutritional deficiencies, a zinc deficiency is possible, and supplementation can be helpful. Zinc may also help reset some of the glutamate brain pathways that are overly active during alcohol withdrawal, thus possibly helping alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Unfortunately, magnesium deficiency is common in those who struggle with alcohol. For this reason, people who drink heavily may benefit from magnesium supplements. In addition, magnesium may help treat depression, fatigue and stomach upset, which are common symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.
