It also affects your body’s ability to absorb B vitamins and folic acid. It can trigger irritable bowel syndrome, acid reflux, and other gastrointestinal illnesses, too. When you drink too much, you’re more likely to eat foods best diet for recovering alcoholic that are high in added sugar, salt, and saturated fat. Good nutrition also helps your brain rework old connections and make new ones. This can make it hard to stay away from alcohol while you’re trying to get better.
What Does the Term “Gateway Drug” Mean?
In addition to changing your diet, you can get extra support through treatment options such as medication to curb cravings, specialized alcohol therapy, and peer support groups. If you find yourself craving sugar during the withdrawal phase, it’s best to seek out healthy, natural alternatives like fruit. Fruit provides your body with other nutrients that are usually absent in foods that are heavy in refined sugars. Also, because of the way alcohol affects our brain chemistry, it’s common to experience mood swings in early sobriety. Salmon, which has already appeared on our list once, is also extremely high in omega-3s.
Eat Healthy Fats
Complex carbs like whole grains and potatoes help prevent swings in blood sugar that can trigger cravings. Complex carbs are also needed to make serotonin, which boosts mood and curbs cravings. Amino acids in certain proteins are also used to make dopamine and serotonin, the brain chemicals that most directly influence cravings.
How to Detox From Alcohol (With Food)
- The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
- Alcoholism is a disease that you can overcome with evidence-based treatment.
- When I was in detox for alcohol withdrawal, I met several people with cirrhosis.
- If you’ve ever found yourself licking the salt off your fingers after you finish a bag of potato chips, you know how satisfying salt can be.
Add bananas to your alcohol liver cleansing diet since they can also increase your dopamine levels and curb cravings. Most alcohol abusers are prone to vomiting what they eat during detox, especially in the initial stages. So, instead of heavy, solid meals, it would be best to start your alcohol-cleanse diet with liquid food, like soups. Soups that contain vegetables and lean protein can help provide the nourishment that your body needs.
Building Healthier Eating Habits
However, putting a focus on achieving proper nutritional intake as well as managing symptoms can provide a better foundation upon which to continue on to inpatient treatment. The connection between nutrition and alcohol detox cannot be stressed enough. Having a nutritious diet will also help in alleviating some of the alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
Having enough protein can help reduce withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, headache, and fatigue. As you’ve likely heard, heavy alcohol consumption can be damaging to your brain. And since your brain needs certain fatty acids to function optimally, eating enough good fats is key in a healthy diet for alcoholics. The process of detoxification also provides an opportunity to establish healthier eating habits. Following a structured and nutritious meal plan can improve overall physical health, promote better mental well-being, and help individuals in recovery establish healthier eating habits [1].
Types of Holistic Health Practices
By boosting levels of cysteine in your body, you can regain your strength and keep your body protected from certain illnesses. Whole grains, sunflower seeds, legumes, yogurt, and poultry are known to contain cysteine, or you can look for a supplement (more on this below). 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.
Green Vegetables: Replenishing Nutritional Stores
Explore what the stages of addiction are, from initial use to treatment options, and navigate the path to recovery. Since iron may be one of the minerals that get deficient for individuals with AUD, loading up on foods rich in iron will help tremendously. Dr. Pickrell is a board-certified psychiatrist with interests in addiction and psychiatry. His understanding of addiction as the overlapping symptoms of biopsychosocial development is the foundation to his care model. He is committed to helping both patients and families understand that addiction is a treatable medical illness. He has been involved in the treatment of addiction for the last 17 years and completed his residency training at the University of Utah.
- Alcohol can not only alter your brain chemistry, but it can negatively affect your nutrition as well.
- These seeds are high in fiber and nutrients while being low in sugar and fats.
- While the fermentation creates a bit of alcohol in kombucha tea, it’s incredibly small, under 0.5%.
- Of course, these same chemicals can cause you to crave drinking again which can be a serious problem for former alcoholics for obvious reasons.
- One reason this occurs is because blood sugar levels are known to fluctuate during early recovery, causing someone to crave sugar more than usual.
Sugary Food and Drinks
Those who are unable to physically and psychologically endure alcohol withdrawal often resume drinking shortly after quitting. A relapse can lead to alcohol poisoning, coma, and death, in severe cases. Here’s what you need to know about alcohol detox and withdrawal along with a list of superfoods to include in your alcohol detox diet that may be effective at accelerating your recovery.