Alcoholism is the inability of an individual to control his/her alcohol intake. This addictive disease causes damage to all the systems and cells present in the body. It affects the cardiovascular, circulatory and digestive system of an individual as well as many organs such as the liver and brain. It is usually found that most alcoholics are malnourished, and this is mainly because alcohol depletes nutrition from the body’s cells and does not allow the body to expel toxins. It is therefore very important that such a person follows a proper alcoholic diet that will help repair the damage caused due to drinking.
When a good diet for alcoholics is combined with regular exercise, the body is able to process the nutrients present in food. Here are a few tips that one can keep in mind while planning an alcoholic diet for recovering alcoholics.
Alcoholism Foods
Eat foods that have a high content of healthy carbohydrates and proteins. Such foods help diminish alcoholic cravings.
Make sure you take multivitamin supplements that contain folic acid and B-complex vitamins. B-complex vitamins contain extra doses of niacin, thiamin, lecithin, chromium, and L-glutamine. With the help of these vitamins blood sugar levels and cravings for alcohol can be controlled.
Try and avoid drinks and food with sugar and caffeine if you are in the early stages of recovery as this will help prevent mood swings.
A recovering alcoholic diet should include foods that contain amino acids tyrosine and tryptophan. These amino acids keep the person mentally alert and you also begin feeling better emotionally.
A healthy diet for alcoholics contains high levels of vitamin C. Vitamin C is an antitoxin that helps neutralize the toxic build up caused due to excess alcohol consumption. Vitamin C also helps reverse the fatty deposits that usually occur in the liver.
A diet for alcoholics with liver disease should have high levels of antioxidants such as selenium and vitamin E. These antioxidants can be included in an alcoholic diet in the form of vegetables and fresh fruits. As many alcoholics are severely malnourished mainly due to nausea and loss of appetite, they should also take nutritional supplements to help prevent further damage to the liver. Alcoholic diet nutrition should be well balanced as it helps slow down the progress of cirrhosis and also helps strengthen the body’s immune system.
A detox diet for alcoholics usually lasts for 6 to 7 weeks. A good detox diet is protein-rich and contains plenty of fluids and fiber. A person on such a detox diet should drink plenty of water. He/she should also consume hypoglycemic substances as most alcoholics suffer from sugar problems. Chamomile and parsley teas are good alkaloids that stimulate elimination of waste from the kidneys. Most detox diets focus on a graded and gradual withdrawal from alcohol with the help of a well balanced diet and exercise. Alcoholic diet drinks must be avoided.
Using juice for alcoholics can help restore balance to their internal systems and organs. A combination of carrot and beet juice is one of the best diets for alcoholics. For preparing this juice you will need about 3 to 4 small beets and 4 to 5 carrots. Before going in for a juice detox diet talk to your doctor and make sure you are ready for such a diet plan. Your doctor may recommend that you start will just half a dose or so to check if you feel dizzy when the detoxification process starts. Another great breakfast drink that helps cleanse your liver can be prepared with half a beet, one carrot, one cucumber, and a stick of celery.
Cabbage juice also works as a great detoxifier. For this you need to take two carrots or two pears, half a small cabbage, handful of watercress, and two sticks of celery. Then you need to extract the juice. Raw cabbage tastes slightly sharp, but it helps in the digestion process and also prevents constipation and fluid retention. Cabbage has certain compounds that facilitate the proper functioning of an alcoholic’s liver and also protects him against cancer. Watercress, pears, celery and carrot help clean the intestines and also aid the detoxification process.
If you find it difficult to stop drinking make sure you eat before you drink. By doing this you will not miss the essential nutrients. Also make sure that you do not snack during your drinking session. Eating nuts and crisps will make you put on the calories and fat. Also remember to dilute your drinks with water or low calorie mixers and go in for non-alcoholic or low alcohol drinks once in a while. You could avail of the internet if you would like to follow the paleo diet for alcoholism.
You need to remember that alcoholism diet therapy, as mentioned earlier, may not necessarily cure alcoholism nor is it able to undo the damage to an alcoholic’s liver. However, following an alcoholism diet can prevent further damage to the liver and prevent other related health problems.