The first step in treating addiction to any substance is to remove all traces of the substance from the body. Unfortunately, many people attempt to quit drugs or alcohol on their own, which almost never works. No matter what the substance or the person’s history of abusing it, the withdrawal phase is where most people fail when trying to fight addiction alone. While the body can withstand malnutrition for weeks, if not longer, dehydration quickly becomes a matter of life or death.

Diet for Recovering Alcoholics

If you had two to three drinks, it typically takes about two to three hours for a healthy liver to process and eliminate the alcohol from the system. 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.

How Intensive Outpatient Intensity Structure Helps Recovery

• Replenish and restore with nutrient-rich powerhouses to support your recovery.
• But food high in sodium can lead to a variety of health problems, including weight gain, high cholesterol, and blood pressure.
• Sulforaphane helps fight off infectious cells, cancer-inducing chemicals, and boosts the liver’s ability to regulate chemical levels in the body.
• But one often-overlooked aspect of beating addiction is nutrition in recovery.
• A healthy diet, complete with supplements recommended by your doctor, can go a long way toward restoring normal body function.

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can begin as early as six hours after the last drink, or as late as 24 hours after the last drink. For most people, withdrawal symptoms begin tapering off between days five and seven, and often last no longer than 10 days. As you’ve likely noticed, alcohol can provide temporary feelings of happiness and relaxation. Studies show that sugar consumption also triggers euphoric feelings, which may help fill that gap. Milk thistle is essential for those with cirrhosis and alcohol-induced fatty liver. It can improve liver function and protect the liver from various toxins.

• With prolonged alcohol use, your body can come to rely on alcohol to feel good, and crave the boost in feel good chemicals.
• Every individual has different nutritional needs that can impact their experience in treatment, which is why we work hard to provide customized treatment plans that address nutrition.
• It has long been used as a traditional remedy for a variety of illnesses, including liver damage.
• Some of the most common withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, nausea, insomnia, and shakes.
• Many drinks like soda, sweetened teas, iced coffees, and fruit juices contain lots of added sugars.
• Cirrhosis is unfortunately irreversible, though you can slow its progress by ceasing alcohol consumption and eating an anti-inflammatory diet.
• Some detox centers even offer nutritional therapy so you or your loved one can consume superfoods to complement alcohol detox treatment.

The Three Krokodil Effects Exposed

If liver damage occurs due to medication or drug use, the time required for recovery can vary widely. Mild damage may heal within a few weeks after discontinuing the drug, while more severe damage, such as drug-induced hepatitis, may require months of treatment and monitoring. Despite the booming detox industry, clinical evidence supporting the effectiveness of these diets is scarce. Read on to explore the science behind liver detoxification and discover what works. Deficiency in vitamin B3, or niacin, is also common in heavy drinkers.

Other Beneficial Foods for Alcohol Detox

Hydration is important for everyone, regardless of history of substance abuse. Even if water hasn’t been a big part of your life before, make sure it is now. Flavor packets or flavored seltzer water can make this easier for those adjusting to increased intake or who don’t yet have a taste for water. During the recovery stage, it’s not uncommon to feel temporarily worse. For some people, AUD has hurt their relationships, careers, health, finances, self-esteem, and other aspects of their lives. Your body has acclimated to quitting drinking over the past couple of years.

You deserve excellent care and a rewarding life in recovery.

Alcohol can not only alter your brain chemistry, but it can negatively affect your nutrition as well. In fact, alcohol is known to prevent the body from absorbing and using the nutrients gained from foods. Without these key nutrients, you not only risk succumbing to various physical ailments, but you can also struggle to think clearly and act quickly. Worse, even if you begin an exercise regimen, this phenomenon can limit your muscle growth, making exercising more complex and less effective. If you have health insurance, call the number on the back of your card to ask about your mental health and substance abuse coverage.

Table of Content

Chicken, turkey, soy and pumpkin seeds are good sources of amino acids. Early in recovery, your body will need to readjust to the feeling of hunger. That’s why it’s important to eat three meals best foods for alcohol recovery a day plus snacks as your body heals. If you don’t feel hungry, think about taking nutritional supplements. Without it, you can have strong cravings, mood swings, and hostile behavior.

• Experts suggest a diet with lots of complex carbs like whole grains, veggies, peas, and beans.
• Some of the most common recipes that include cayenne pepper are vegetable soup, spicy marinades, chili sauce, and Indian curry.
• You’ll need to be especially careful not to replace alcohol with sugar or caffeine.
• After stopping stimulants, it’s common to experience a strong spike in appetite — which may lead to overeating — that can overwhelm the weakened digestive system.