Dietary considerations. Alcoholics very rarely have a good
diet. Some addicts may eat less, some may eat more and some will eat
unhealthy food in binges while on a drinking episode. Eating better
may be the one best thing you can do in your home to treat
alcoholism. You'll feel better about yourself and your body will
thank you. Consider making these dietary changes:
A) Eat a well balanced diet. DO NOT skip meals. Skipping meals may
result in a 'depleted' feeling which may lead to a temptation to
drink.
B) Always have a good full breakfast
- many experts agree this is
the most important meal of the day. It's like having your batteries
fully charged at the beginning of the day - your body will thank you
later in the day!
C) Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables and their juices. Consider
buying an
affordable juicer or
professional fruit juicer - fresh juice is
always better for you than store bought alternatives which contain
many unwanted additives. Reduce your urge to drink by consuming 2-3
apples a day and have plenty of grapes, dates, lemons, oranges and
bananas on hand. Celery & carrot juice extract have also been known
to be beneficial. These will all help the alcoholic minimize
cravings over time.
D) Avoid caffeine or sugar. Alcoholics are generally prone to bet
'jittery' to begin with and these products (especially caffeine)
will tend to make your body feel more 'on edge.' Plus caffeine is
another drug - trying to regulate your body's feelings with drugs
just isn't natural.
E) Drink PLENTY of water all day long. Alcohol dehydrates a body.
One way to know if your dehydrated is to notice the color & smell of
your urine. If your urine is white and odorless you're properly
hydrated and if it is very yellow and smelly, you need to drink lots
of water. Carry a water bottle with you at all times. Make sure your
water is fresh, such as spring water. Spring water can be expensive
so consider saving money by buying a water filtration unit such as
Pur or
Brita. These units attach direct to your kitchen sink faucet
and taste as good as spring water.
Helpful
supplements to help conquer addiction
Add supplements to your diet. These probably wont help you by
themselves, but adding these to your diet is both inexpensive and
very helpful. Keep the following in mind:
A)
Minerals.
Try adding the minerals
Zinc
and/or
Selenium
for daily support & to help an alcoholic recover missing minerals (Try to
keep daily Selenium intake to 200mcg. or under).
Magnesium (or a
Calcium-Magnesium blend)
may also replace lost nutrients and could be beneficial
during days of substance abuse & those that immediately follow.
B)
Stomach and/or liver damage related to excessive alcohol abuse may be minimized
(or treated) when adding
SAM-e,
n-acetyl-cysteine or
alpha lipoic acid to your vitamin regimen.
Recovering alcoholics can also improve the condition of their liver by
taking daily glutahione or
l-carnitine.
C) Most B-Vitamins are helpful including
B1,
B2,
B3,
B6,
B12.
Taking extra B-Complex
vitamins may restore lost nutrients.
D)Vitamin-A may be an effective
form of treatment (however, do not take more than the recommended dose as
it may be harmful to your liver). Other vitamins worthy for alcoholism
include vitamins
C,
E &
folic acid.
E)
The amino acid Glutamine can be
used to reduce cravings for alcohol (when taken daily, in high dosages).
GABA has also shown promise to treat your alcohol cravings as well as
symptoms associated with withdrawal.
Best Values We've Found.
Swanson Selenium
An essential trace mineral with
antioxidant properties. Restores missing nutrients of
frequent or heavy drinkers. Supports cardiovascular system
health. Nutritional support for maintaining prostate health.
50 Mcg, 200 Caps.
Swanson L-Glutamine Keeps your mind sharp
and keen. Helps fuel your muscles. Has a unique ability to
pass through the blood/brain barrier making it an excellent
promoter of healthy mental function. May help an alcoholic
minimize cravings when used in higher dosages. 500 Mg., 100 Capsules.
Whether it's to detoxify an
alcohol-ravaged liver or help 'come down' on withdrawal, herbs
have a long history of benefiting the recovering or current
alcoholic. Here are a few suggestions:
A)
Milk thistle extract and
dandelion root
both may benefit
the drinker by providing protection to the liver from alcohol and
other toxins, when taken daily.
C)Oatstraw tea can be
drank as needed to ease symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.
Best Value We Found.
Nature's Way Milk Thistle
Terrific liver protection and
nourishment, especially for a liver damaged by heavy alcohol
use. An active bioflavanoid complex makes Milk
Thistle a powerful antioxidant. Guaranteed potency extract
is standardized to 80% silymarin. 60 Caps.
Exercise regularly. Not only can regular exercise
produce a 'natural high' (which could possibly replace the
alcoholic 'high'), but it also makes you feel better about
yourself. One of the best forms of exercise is to take a walk.
Not only is walking easy, it's a great way to 'clear your head'
and connect with nature. Try to walk at least 15-30 minutes
every other day. Regular exercise also reduces depression and
anxiety. Alcoholism, depression & anxiety sometimes are related.
Treat one condition, and the others may start to improve.
The
power of getting good sleep.
Get good sleep. Try to
avoid alcohol induced sleep, but if you do drink alcohol before
bed, follow that up a few cups of water and keep a container of
water beside your bed. Also consider having a slice or two of
toast before bed. Bread may soak up and dilute some of the
alcohol in your stomach while water will help re-hydrate you.
These may make you sleep better and feel more rested when you
awaken. If you feel better your less likely to reach for another
drink.
One
more thing ...
Find good
constructive hobbies to keep your head occupied. Being 'bored'
is a sure excuse to have a drink. Make a list of worthwhile
things you used to enjoy doing when you were younger, print that
list and post it somewhere you can be reminded of it everyday.
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Disclaimer:
All statements provided on
this page have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug
Administration and may contain errors. The information contained
herein is not intended to replace or contradict any advice or
recommendations provided by a licensed medical professional or
clinical practitioner.
Please
exercise extreme caution and do your own additional due diligence
if you intend to use any or all information provided herein. Blezz.com assumes no responsibility
to the said effectiveness of any or all of the suggested tips, treatments or
potential cures listed on this page. Individual results may vary greatly depending on the user,
the current state of the users physical and/or mental health, age,
willpower or other contributing factors. You may also wish to consult with a
qualified professional before proceeding.]
Finding
help through diet & nutrition.
