The Role Of Diet In Alcohol Recovery

by | Apr 6, 2015 | Health & Fitness

If you are an addict, you are affected in many ways. Physically, emotionally, socially and psychologically, you are spiraling downwards. Attending the right program focusing on alcohol recovery in Malibu can help you get your life back together again. Many tools in these programs exist to help you move from alcoholic to recovering alcoholic. As part of a holistic approach, enlightened and progressive rehab centers realize the role diet plays in your recovery.

Alcohol and Diet

Research is clear on the subject. Alcohol abuse results in malnutrition. Alcohol, while it creates the illusion of a filled stomach, provides little to no nutrients. Moreover, prolonged alcohol abuse means the body uses up any stored nutrients. This results in a body that is lacking in those elements that keep it functioning properly. It becomes seriously depleted of vital vitamins and essential minerals. The result is a series of health issues.

Alcohol provides only empty calories. At the same time, it acts upon the liver and pancreas. It destabilizes the blood sugar. The problem becomes compounded by the prioritization of alcohol consumption over nutritious food. An addict may even go so far as to derive half of their daily intake of calories from alcohol.

In addition to the expected health effects are others. These include:

* Lack of energy
* Depression
* Other forms of mental health issues – some may precede alcoholism making the addiction more severe. This is known as a dual disorder
* Poor judgement

Alcohol and Amino Acids: Tyrosine And Tryptophan

Alcohol abuse results in the inability of your body to process two essential amino acids. These are tyrosine and tryptophan and are involved in the production of such important compounds as dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin. They play a significant role in several neurologically based abilities. Specifically:

* Emotional stability
* Mental clarity, acuity and alertness
* Sense of well-being
* Ability to get a good night’s sleep

In other words decreased amounts of these neurotransmitters can affect you’re your mood and behavior. The precursors of these essential neurotransmitters, tyrosine and tryptophan are readily available in a variety of healthy foods including:

* Banana
* Milk
* Poultry
* Seafood
* Sunflower seeds
* Tofu

It is easy to see why the addiction of a nutritionist to any alcohol recovery program would be considered beneficial.

Alcohol Recovery in Malibu and Nutrition

The very essence of alcohol recovery in Malibu is to find out what works for an individual. This is part of a holistic approach that takes into account all aspects of the person. Nutrition is one facet that requires due consideration. When an addict learns to make healthy food choices, he or she is on the route to finding their way.
While, initially, this means eating a special diet to help the body adjust to the positive changes, eventually, the addict will begin to crave alcohol less and good food more.

By looking at the deficiencies in diet of an addict, a program for alcohol recovery in Malibu can help the healing process. While this does not take place in a vacuum, the restoration of a proper diet will help repair damaged organs and reduce the craving for alcohol. It will also do much to restore that very important sense of feeling revitalized, generally mentally and physically better and no longer spiraling out of control.

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