The Best Foods For Alcohol Detox And Addiction recovery
This makes you less hungry for food, so there’s a higher chance you’ll skip meals or choose foods that are low in nutrients. The FHE Health team is committed to providing accurate information that adheres to the highest standards of writing. This is part of our ongoing commitment to ensure FHE Health is trusted as a leader in mental health and addiction care. Dairy products are good sources of both calcium and vitamin A, promoting strong, healthy bones and teeth as well as healthy digestion. Dairy products can be high in fat, but skim milk, yogurt, butter and some cheeses can be a good way to supplement your diet. On the other hand, some of the best foods for recovering substance users include whole grains, vegetables, eggs, beans, and fish.
Complex carbohydrates stabilize blood sugar levels and provide vitamins, minerals and fibers. These foods take longer to digest, which means they provide energy for a long period of time. At Acqua Recovery, our nutrition therapy plays a pivotal role in the path to recovery from alcohol abuse. Our chef curates meals that not only satisfy the palate but also nourish the body, promoting overall well-being. Recognizing the impact of nutrition on mental and physical health, our approach is tailored to the unique needs of each person, fostering a compassionate and supportive environment.
Top Five Foods for Recovering Alcoholics
Adhering to the proper nutritional guidelines can help heal this damage. The Dopamine Neurotransmitter is responsible for the sense of satisfaction and reward. You can supplement your diet by taking Tyrosine Mood Food to help balance your brain chemistry. The effects of excessive alcohol consumption can also lead to a loss of carbohydrate storage in the body, which can result in sugar cravings.
- While it is important to pay attention to what types of foods you can and cannot eat, some foods contain a lot of good things that help your body heal.
- Combining therapy with support groups can greatly improve your odds of success.
- Shellfish can help you replenish these minerals, helping your body return to normal functioning.
- Certain foods may thwart the detox process by unnecessarily upsetting your stomach or dehydrating individuals who are experiencing moderate to severe withdrawal symptoms.
- Before we get started, you might be wondering what causes alcohol withdrawal?
It’s recommended to use tea that’s low in sugar and proceed with caution with any beer or wine stand-in. They’re likely cooked in unhealthy fats, like saturated and trans fats, and aren’t very nutritious. Without it, you can have strong cravings, mood swings, and hostile behavior. We get amino acids from protein in foods like meat, dairy products, and nuts, along with some grains and beans. Dual diagnosis treatment programs for substance abuse and eating disorders focus on addressing both conditions and their common roots, rather than trying to treat one after the other. These programs are unique to the individual and the complex interplay between the conditions but typically involve individual and group therapy designed to heal the patient from both sides.
Hydrating Foods (Plus Plenty of Water)
It’s normal for recovering alcoholics to desperately crave sugar to the point that they struggle to eat anything else. This is usually due to neurotransmitter imbalances, fluctuations in blood sugar content or just having an addictive personality. In early recovery, our bodies are trying to reconnect and reconfigure their operating systems. More times than not we’re functioning alcohol recovery diet at a very low frequency of energy while our organs, cells, and transmitters find a way to start healing. Start your morning with a glass of water, and it will help you stay hydrated during the day. Cayenne pepper is a natural spice that may help with alcohol detox because it contains capsaicin, which has been shown to have pain-relieving and appetite-stimulating effects.
That’s what evens out your moods, helps you sleep better, and soothes the urge for alcohol. Experts suggest a diet with lots of complex carbs like whole grains, veggies, peas, and beans. Too much alcohol can cause inflammation in your stomach lining and pancreas. 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.
Water and Hydrating Foods
Eating a healthy diet and supplementing with vitamins as needed can help correct some of the damage from drinking. A healthy alcohol detox diet can help to set the person’s body up for recovery. For those in the withdrawal phase, the most common food craving is sugar. One reason this occurs is because blood sugar levels are known to fluctuate during early recovery, causing someone to crave sugar more than usual. Sugar can also provide a dopamine release, which can feel especially satisfying for someone already craving the dopamine burst alcohol provides. This can be desirable for those managing withdrawal symptoms like fatigue and insomnia.
