People may need more of the substance or action to feel the same level of pleasure over time as their brain adjusts to these abnormally high quantities of neurotransmitters. This neurological component increases a person’s susceptibility to addiction, together with genetic predispositions and environmental factors. Various studies show that vitamin C reduces stress and anxiety and decreases the severity of depression (62-67). It might seem unbelievable but there is research demonstrating vitamin C’s usefulness in overcoming addiction and reducing withdrawal symptoms. In animals, zinc reduces the intensity of morphine dependence, and zinc chelators worsen withdrawal symptoms (76, 77, 78).
A Complete Guide to Supplements and Vitamins for Recovering Alcoholics
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- Even moderate amounts of alcohol can severely reduce the rate of vitamin B absorption, so it’s beneficial to boost vitamin B levels after you stop drinking.
- The only way to protect the liver long-term is to eliminate or drastically reduce drinking.
- Whether you’ve just quit drinking or you’re struggling with symptoms of PAWS, this list of vitamins for withdrawal can seriously change your life for the better.
Alcohol consumption often leads to a vitamin B deficiency because your body cannot properly absorb vitamin B when there is alcohol in your system. Even moderate amounts of alcohol can severely reduce the rate of vitamin B absorption, so it’s beneficial to boost vitamin B levels after you stop drinking. Withdrawal symptoms from alcohol are different for everyone and can last anywhere from a few days to more than a week. During this period, when your body is adjusting and healing, it is important to have a healthy diet and nutrition to support you in your new alcohol-free lifestyle.
Detox Vitamins and Supplements Guide
The patient received IV thiamine treatment within one hour, helping to lead to a positive outcome. Don’t worry, we are in network with over 100 insurances nationwide. When I weened off psychiatric medication, I took large doses of vitamin C every day. And high doses of vitamin C have been shown to increase endorphin levels, decrease opioid use, and reduce the withdrawal syndrome of heroin addicts (58). Some of the best food sources of zinc include oysters, grass-fed beef, pumpkin seeds, cashews, mushrooms and spinach.
Best Foods to Eat When Detoxing From Alcohol
One animal study showed that ashwagandha helps control mood changes, anxiety and seizures from alcohol withdrawal, but this effect has not yet been studied in humans. Kudzu might be helpful for those who struggle with alcohol because some data show that it can help reduce alcohol intake, even in those who drink heavily. Further, kudzu does not affect sleep cycles and may start working after a single dose. A lack of vitamin B9 can trigger anemia and make you weak, tired, and moody. Folic acid is in foods like enriched bread, flour, cornmeal, pasta, rice, and breakfast cereals. Veggies, fruits, fruit juices, nuts, beans, and peas naturally have folate.
Depression
Contact The Recovery Village Columbus today to learn about admissions. According to Optimal Living, “vitamin and mineral deficiencies can cause metabolic imbalances that create addictive cravings,” making it harder to recover. A simple act such as adding the right vitamins to your diet can help you feel better.
Common Food Cravings During Alcohol Withdrawal
This is the same program I use with my clients, who report the same results. Drug and alcohol addiction can rob a person of their health by causing considerable nutrient deficiencies that may exacerbate symptoms of withdrawal or present barriers to recovery. At Banyan Treatment Centers Boca Raton, we know that nutrient therapy in early recovery can help replenish what addiction has https://ecosoberhouse.com/ taken.
Glutamine can also modulate cognitive processes affected by alcohol use. In addition, ensuring adequate magnesium intake through diet or supplements may help reduce the risk of muscle-related issues. Vitamin C can ease withdrawal by increasing the alcohol clearance rate9. Studies suggest that taking two grams of vitamin C can reduce toxic effects on the liver. Protein is naturally occurring in many foods and is made best vitamins for recovering alcoholics up of building blocks called amino acids. Foods such as citrus fruits, bell pepper, strawberries, tomatoes, and potatoes are all high in vitamin C.
With prolonged alcohol use, your body can come to rely on alcohol to feel good, and crave the boost in feel good chemicals. When someone stops drinking, their dopamine and serotonin levels are initially depleted, so it’s common for them to seek out other sources of comfort and pleasure to compensate. For many people in the withdrawal phase, this results in cravings for specific foods. Alcohol depletes and inhibits the absorption of vital nutrients, including vitamins. This makes a person with alcohol use disorder more likely to have one or more vitamin deficiencies.
That said, everyone’s relationship with food is different, and your diet shouldn’t be a point of immense stress, especially in early sobriety. If a few more sugary snacks will prevent you from drinking, it can be okay to treat yourself a bit more than usual. Before we get started, you might be wondering what causes alcohol withdrawal? When an individual consumes unhealthy amounts of alcohol over an extended period of time, their body can adapt to the depressive effects of alcohol, which slows down the central nervous system. When a person then stops drinking alcohol, their central nervous system can become hyperactive and dysregulated, leading to various withdrawal symptoms. Some of the most common withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, nausea, insomnia, and shakes.