Other new habits, such as regular exercise, mindfulness practice, and a healthier diet, can all contribute to boosting your health in recovery. For the average person who is eating a well-balanced, healthy diet, supplements of vitamins B and C are often unnecessary. However, alcohol abusers will find that a holistic approach to recovery that integrates a nourishing diet and this type of vitamin supplementation helps them through the process.
- A lack of vitamin C can deplete bone and muscle strength, leading to chronic fatigue and a lack of energy.
- Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated during alcohol metabolism inhibit antioxidant activity in hepatocytes [6].
- That said, some studies have found that it can boost your chances for a successful recovery.
- Experts suggest a diet with lots of complex carbs like whole grains, veggies, peas, and beans.
- This makes a person with alcohol use disorder more likely to have one or more vitamin deficiencies.
People may need professional help to get them through withdrawal, help manage their symptoms, and provide the best chance of successful rehabilitation. Overall, according to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, the goal of detoxification is to help make withdrawal safer, more humane and prepare the individual for ongoing treatment.
Why Alcohol Abuse Causes Vitamin Deficiency
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. When you drink too much, you’re more likely to eat foods that are high in added sugar, salt, best vitamins for recovering alcoholics 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. Many treatment protocols for AWS involve supportive care as the person withdraws to ease the discomfort of the symptoms.
Certain vitamins are vital to repairing and building cells required for bodily functions. Many holistic healers believe there is a link between sugar and alcoholism. That is, when alcohol is consumed there is an initial energy rush, followed by a severe drop in energy due to dropping sugar levels (blood glucose levels). While people naturally produce some vitamins or receive them from healthy food, taking dietary supplements is a great way to deal with nutrient deficiency.
Skin and Hair Issues
Many treatment facilities employ nutritional counselors, who can create a nutrition plan for you to ensure you are replacing all of your depleted vitamins and minerals. If you don’t have access to a nutrition counselor, there are specific foods you can eat to replenish your vitamin levels. First, you’ll need a full nutritional workup from your family doctor. They’ll ask about your health history, do a physical exam, and run some blood tests. The doctor may tell you to take supplements to raise your nutrient levels. Manganese is considered to play an important role in the development of brain disorders related to alcohol abuse, such as hepatic encephalopathy [114].
ALD refers to a series of diseases that begin with fatty liver and progress to AH and alcoholic cirrhosis. Malnutrition in patients with ALD is correlated with decreased quality of life, increased risk of infection, frequent hospitalization, complications, mortality, and financial burden. https://ecosoberhouse.com/ Physicians, including gastroenterologists and hepatologists, should be familiar with the assessment and management of malnutrition and nutritional supplementation [13]. Alcoholic beverages contain little or no protein, vitamins, trace elements, fiber, or other nutrients [14].