Alcohol Detox Diet: Foods to Help Detox from Alcohol Detoxification

The following resources may be helpful for yourself, your family members, and/or the individual struggling with alcohol misuse. Through it all, however, be sure to take care of yourself and your mental health. Some people with a long history of alcohol misuse may start to experience seizures, which peak around 10 hours then taper off and subside entirely within 2 or 3 days. Just like a broken bone or infection needs time to heal, so does an overworked liver. While this depends on the amount of alcohol you have had over the years, your liver can see partial healing within two to three weeks, but this will depend on your health history. But it’s just one of a series of improvements toward rewiring your brain and improving your quality of life.

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. Because excessive alcohol use can lead to protein deficiency, it’s great to add low-fat proteins into your recovery diet. Protein is essential for the brain and heart and serves as the building blocks for all the body’s muscles. Having enough protein can help reduce withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, headache, and fatigue.

Nutritional Deficiencies

Alcohol withdrawal can begin within hours of ending a drinking session. If you are ready to begin a life without alcohol, The Recovery Village is here to help. Contact us today to learn more about treatment programs, including alcohol detox and recovery plans that can work well for your situation.

Your liver has enzymes that work like special tools to help metabolize (break down) different toxins that enter your body, such as alcohol. If you’re on a mission to beat alcohol forever, be sure to resolve your all of your Missing Links in the Hierarchy of Alcohol Recovery. I prefer to use coconut milk instead of regular milk because it contains no sugar; milk contains a hefty dose of lactose.

Alcohol Detox Programs

This is especially important for someone looking to rebuild their immune system and overall health. Another strategy to consider is the use of kombucha tea to stand in and provide relaxation during times you’d normally desire alcohol. Kombucha is a fizzy, fermented tea created with yeast and bacteria cultures that can help you improve your gut health. While the fermentation creates a bit of alcohol in kombucha tea, it’s incredibly small, under 0.5%. It’s recommended to use tea that’s low in sugar and proceed with caution with any beer or wine stand-in. Vitamin C is found in most fruits and can help repair liver damage and increase glutathione levels.

Good nutrition during recovery is important; however, good dietary practices rarely happen accidentally. A good plan is essential to maximize the benefit of changing your diet and stick with the changes during recovery. Alcohol is an empty calorie, increasing your calorie intake without actually providing nutritional value.

Foods to Avoid on an Alcohol Detox Diet

You can opt for a multivitamin or seek out individual supplements that contain omega-3, magnesium, zinc, and vitamins A, B, C, D, and E. Try to use vitamins as a means to support a healthy diet, not to offset an unhealthy one. It’s also vital to consult your doctor first to make sure your vitamin regime is appropriate and safe for you.

Bananas are also a well known rich source of potassium, along with high levels of vitamins B6 and C. It is often the case that those who abuse drugs and alcohol are deficient in their magnesium and potassium levels. These minerals are known as electrolytes which help regulate your heartbeat and blood pressure, and keep your nerves and muscles healthy.

In addition to helping in the short-term with mental health symptoms, omega 3 fatty acids may also help to heal the brain. Many addictions, including an addiction to stimulant drugs such as cocaine or meth, or an alcohol addiction, can cause stress on the heart. After quitting drug use and beginning on the path to recovery, taking supplements that support heart health is an important part of new healthy eating habits. For example, when a person with a history of drug addiction or alcohol addiction eats foods high in sugar, there can be a sudden spike in blood sugar level that results in changes in brain chemistry. These changes are very similar to what happens when they used to get high.

• Eating may be the last thing you’ll want to think about when it comes to alcohol detox, but it’s an important part of the process.
• Treatment options vary in intensity of services, length of treatment, and types of therapeutic interventions.
• “Nutrition optimization is actually the most evidence-based and most important intervention aside from stopping drinking,” points out Dr. Lindenmeyer.
• These programs are offered at professional alcohol rehab facilities like The Recovery Village, and they help make withdrawal a safer and more comfortable process.

B vitamins are involved in many processes that are essential to a successful recovery, and they’re often depleted in people who have been drinking heavily for a long time. B vitamins help the body make energy and play a role in the production alcohol recovery diet of serotonin, and they are essential for healthy nervous system function. Fruits in particular are a healthy sweet alternative to sugary foods. People withdrawing or detoxing from substances including alcohol may often crave sweets.