Similar to vitamin B, zinc is another nutrient that can’t be adequately absorbed when a person consumes alcohol. Zinc deficiency not only increases the risk of disease but can include other symptoms like loss of appetite, mental lethargy, and rough skin. It’s important to note that it’s best to avoid excessively sweet drinks like soda, teas, or juices sweetened with added sugars. If you want something with a bit of flavor, unsweetened green tea is a great choice. It’s also helpful to minimize caffeine intake, as caffeine is a diuretic and can exacerbate dehydration in early recovery.

Impact of Alcohol on Nutrient Absorption and Digestive Health

• Get creative with homemade syrups and flavor your cup with everything from vanilla bean to hibiscus.
• Growing up, she witnessed her parents struggle with alcoholism and hated it.
• It wasn’t until she found a packed meeting on a Friday night, with peers she’d typically be parting with, that she hoped she’d found her place.
• Ask your doctor for a referral, or contact your local hospital, community health center, or university.
• On the other hand, some of the best foods for recovering substance users include whole grains, vegetables, eggs, beans, and fish.

For example, you may lack adequate levels of vitamin A in your system, which can lead to vision impairment and dry skin. Some people may also drink excessively while eating very little, which leads to multiple nutrient deficiencies that are tough to correct. 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.

• It also affects your body’s ability to absorb B vitamins and folic acid.
• Although refined grains like white bread also offer carbohydrates for energy, they are not as healthy an option compared with whole-grain alternatives.
• Skip the commercially bottled brands and go for an ale made from real fermented ginger root.
• These are molecules that stop the bad effects of free radicals, which are unstable and reactive atoms that can hurt the brain cells and reduce neuroplasticity.

Whole Grains For Alcohol Detox

You may have a strong urge to eat sweets because they set off dopamine, the same chemical messenger triggered by some drugs. Too little could eventually cause serious learning and memory problems, a condition called Wernicke-Korsakoff’s syndrome. Eat beans, peas, lentils, pork, brown rice, and fortified foods like breakfast cereal.

Drugs & Supplements

Fruits and vegetables are important because they contain high amounts of fiber, as well as folate and Vitamin A, which are often deficient if you drink heavily. All of Best alcohol abuse recovery diet these symptoms can worsen if you are not getting enough water. Water is important for hydration, and you can easily lose too much water through vomiting and diarrhea.

If your liver has taken a hit from prolonged alcohol use, there are ways to give it — and the rest of your body — a break. Your liver has enzymes that work like special tools to help metabolize (break down) different toxins that enter your body, such as alcohol. But someone who has just given up an important source of pleasure may not be ready to make other drastic lifestyle changes. So, it is more important that the person avoid returning to substance use than sticking with a strict diet.

Nourish With Vitamins and Minerals

Generally, people who consume more fish report lower levels of depression, though experts have contested the exact fish oil or dietary factor that’s responsible. In summary, professional guidance and support are indispensable in the alcohol recovery diet. A focus on B vitamins, particularly thiamine (B-1), is essential due to their role in cognitive function and cellular health. Vitamin A and vitamin D are important for immune function and mood regulation. It’s also recommended to include foods rich in tryptophan, an amino acid that supports the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter tied to well-being. Chronic alcohol consumption can significantly impair the body’s ability to absorb and utilize essential nutrients, leading to notable vitamin deficiencies.

For serious alcohol use disorder, you may need a stay at a residential treatment facility. Most residential treatment programs include individual and group therapy, support groups, educational lectures, family involvement, and activity therapy. Treatment for alcohol use disorder can vary, depending on your needs.

Fruit provides your body with other nutrients that are usually absent in foods that are heavy in refined sugars. Remember that nutritional therapy should be just one piece of your whole treatment program. To stay in recovery and live a healthier, happier life, you need to try other things. 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.

The five worst types of alcohol for weight loss:

Treatment may involve a brief intervention, individual or group counseling, an outpatient program, or a residential inpatient stay. Working to stop alcohol use to improve quality of life is the main treatment goal. However, these foods often lack vitamins to replenish the body with nutrients. Both eating disorders and substance use disorders have similar behavioral patterns, such as strong cravings and a lack of control over consumption despite negative consequences. People with bulimia or binge eating disorders, like those with substance abuse, have intense cravings and feel like they can’t stop during episodes of overeating. Both food and addictive substances become ways of avoiding or numbing unwanted feelings.

• Protein is a vital component of nutrition, particularly in the context of recovery from alcohol dependency.
• Zinc deficiency not only increases the risk of disease but can include other symptoms like loss of appetite, mental lethargy, and rough skin.
• The mental challenge of this stage is not to let anything make you feel defeated.
• Although eating these foods during detox won’t ensure smooth sailing, they will likely ease the discomfort and cravings that accompany the detox stage.