Good nutrition in recovery can also boost your mental health—an important factor in maintaining your sobriety. In this post, we’ll discuss the relationship between alcohol and nutrition, plus 12 of the best supplements and vitamins for alcoholics in recovery. These include supplements for alcohol cravings, repairing your liver, and rebalancing your nervous system. People who live with alcohol use disorder may develop a range of symptoms if they stop drinking suddenly. They may also experience vitamin deficiencies, as alcohol impairs the body’s ability to absorb vitamins and nutrients. When dealing with alcohol use disorder, a comprehensive treatment plan is essential.
How Nutrition Helps With Recovery
- There were also associations between both vitamin C and vitamin B9 [117,118] while the molecular basis is unknown.
- Combined with poor nutrition, this may increase your risk of alcohol-induced injury to your liver, intestines, lungs, and brain.
- Incorporating these supplements and remedies into your recovery plan can provide essential support for your body as you heal.
Below, we’ll discuss why this happens, and some ways to overcome these cravings as you adjust to sobriety. We are licensed by the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health & Department Services to provide SA IOP (Substance Abuse Intensive Outpatient Program) and OP (Outpatient vitamins for recovering alcoholics Program) levels of care. 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.
Why might recovering alcoholics need supplements?
Without it, you can have strong cravings, mood swings, and hostile behavior. We get amino acids from protein in foods like meat, dairy products, and nuts, along with some grains and beans. Many individuals who drink large quantities of alcohol are deficient in vitamin B1, or thiamine. In fact, this is one of the main vitamins given to people going through medical detox from alcohol. Vitamin B1 deficiency can cause weight loss, irritability, fatigue, and in extreme cases lead to Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, also known as wet brain. Vitamins B6 and B12 play important roles in producing blood cells and supporting the health of the nervous system.
Vitamin supplements and alcohol withdrawal syndrome: What to know
Vitamin B9 is required for the transformation of Hcy into methionine as well as the generation of deoxythymidine monophosphate (dTMP) from deoxyuridine monophosphate (dUMP) [119]. Even though vitamin C consumption has been shown to raise circulation levels of vitamin B9 and lower Hcy levels [118,120,121], the relationship between them remains unknown. Figure 3 summarizes the vitamins and their possible mechanisms of action against the liver injury caused by alcohol consumption. Alcohol use disorder affects about 7.2% of people older than 12 years old, including 6.9% of males and 7.8% of females [8]. It has been described that excessive alcohol drinking promotes the pathogenesis of many diseases, such as cancer, liver cirrhosis, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and neuropsychiatric disorders [9,10,11,12]. Long-term nutrient deficiency resulting from high alcohol intake can have severe and wide-ranging impacts on a person’s health and bodily functions.
Hydrating Foods (Plus Plenty of Water)
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. There are holistic addiction treatment centers and substance use treatment programs that emphasize nutrition education, too. There’s no way around it—when you 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.
Typically, a person must complete detoxification before they’re ready for nutritional therapy. Depending on the drug, the person can be treated https://ecosoberhouse.com/ with medication to ease these symptoms. They’re likely cooked in unhealthy fats, like saturated and trans fats, and aren’t very nutritious.
DL-phenylalanine can also be a useful supplement for alcohol withdrawal. Iron and calcium are two more critical minerals for anyone recovering from alcohol use disorder. Alcohol consumption can lead to iron deficiency, which may cause anemia, fatigue, and a weakened immune system. Ensuring you receive enough iron is essential for the production of healthy red blood cells and maintaining your overall energy levels. However, it is always best to consult a medical professional before starting any supplementation regimen to address the unique needs and circumstances of your situation.
You can see a counselor to learn how to manage stress, join a support group to talk to others who understand what you’re going through, and get regular exercise to stay healthy and lower anxiety. If you have alcohol use disorder (severe problem drinking that affects about 15 million people in the U.S.), these feelings can make it even harder to make good choices when it comes to both food and alcohol. Alcohol can cause malnutrition, malabsorption, and increased urinary excretion of the vitamin, leading to vitamin C deficiency.9 This deficiency can cause you to feel tired, irritable, and weak. Severe deficiency, called scurvy, may result in anemia, bruising, and dental issues. Taking a vitamin C supplement can help you feel better, which is essential to maintaining your sobriety.
- 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.
- Together we will explore if a full three-month bio-repair program is the right next step for you.
- Vitamin D deficiency, less than 50 nmol/L of 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) is increasingly being recognized as a global public health issue [78].
- Mixing alcohol and supplements does not cause direct interactions but can lead to significant vitamin deficiencies.
- For example, a vitamin B complex supplement can help address deficiencies in B vitamins, which are essential for many functions in the body, including energy production and nervous system function.
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- Regular exposure to sunlight or eating vitamin D-rich foods such as fortified milk, fatty fish, and egg yolks can help restore this essential nutrient to adequate levels.
- If individuals believe they have a problem with alcohol or if they drink more than the recommended amounts, they should speak with their doctor for support and advice.
- Good nutrition in recovery can also boost your mental health—an important factor in maintaining your sobriety.