Alcohol Recovery Diet: Best Foods To Eat and Why

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 wine abuse, addiction, and treatment options play a role in the production of serotonin, and they are essential for healthy nervous system function. When detoxing from alcohol, you’ll likely be told that drinking water is a vital part of the process.

It may irritate the stomach lining in some cases, making nausea or the effects of alcohol on the intestinal tract worse. These nutritional imbalances can lead to serious health complications such as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, anemia and increased susceptibility to infections. Not only are these types of foods rich in nutrients and easy for the body to digest, but they can also be hydrating.

Some of the most common withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, nausea, insomnia, and shakes. Other symptoms, like seizures and hallucinations, can be more severe and even life-threatening. That’s why it’s vital for your safety that you consult a medical professional before you stop drinking. It is impossible to stress highly enough the importance of a healthy, nutritional and balanced diet when talking about alcohol and drug abuse recovery. Eating healthy is not another faddy diet, it does not mean having to stick to a spartan or dull regime. Embracing a full and balanced diet will not only make you feel better physically but your mental state will improve immeasurably.

  1. He is committed to helping both patients and families understand that addiction is a treatable medical illness.
  2. It’s an essential part of a healthy diet for alcoholics who are in recovery.
  3. Salmon, which has already appeared on our list once, is also extremely high in omega-3s.
  4. Similar to vitamin B, zinc is another nutrient that can’t be adequately absorbed when a person consumes alcohol.
  5. They also help you feel fuller for longer and provide ongoing energy.
  6. Periodic fasting, which consists of fasting for 24-hour periods a couple of times during each week, can mean autophagy occurs at around the 18-hour mark.

Periodic fasting, which consists of fasting for 24-hour periods a couple of times during each week, can mean autophagy occurs at around the 18-hour mark. Periodic fasting also speeds up the process of restoring amino acids. If this is a concern for you, consider periodic fasting if intermittent fasting isn’t helping you as quickly as you’d like.

Fruits and vegetables contain a lot of fiber that helps with digestion which can make it easier on your stomach when going through withdrawal symptoms such as nausea or vomiting. These minerals, vitamins, and supplements are the ones we recommend focusing on first. Not getting enough food during this time can make your withdrawal symptoms worse, so it is important for you to try to stay hydrated and eat foods that are good for you.

Does Alcohol Raise Triglycerides?

Making sure to eat protein during your detox and recovery can help to replete your stores of these important nutrients. 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. Nutritional supplements can play an important role in alcohol recovery, assisting in replenishing the nutrients often depleted due to alcohol misuse. B vitamins such as thiamine (vitamin B1) and folate (vitamin B9) are critical for brain function and energy production, which can be negatively impacted by chronic alcohol consumption.

Foods To Avoid During Alcohol Recovery

This 24/7 hotline can refer you to a qualified treatment facility, and it is free to call. Unfortunately, the most important foods to avoid when overcoming withdrawal symptoms are greasy, fatty food and too much alcoholic narcissist alcohol and narcissistic personality disorder sugar. Whole grains are also rich in fiber, but also provide a slow release of sugar into a person’s system to help prevent mood swings. They also help you feel fuller for longer and provide ongoing energy.

Alcohol Detox Diet: What Are the Best Foods?

I made this difficult decision myself many years ago, and today, I continue to encourage others to move away from alcohol use and toward healthier choices. At Acqua Recovery, our nutrition therapy, led by our dedicated Chef Kyria Cropper, goes beyond meals – it’s a culinary journey infused with love and care. Kyria crafts every meal from treatment for substance use disorder kaiser permanente scratch, ensuring each bite is a gesture of support and nourishment. Her commitment extends to meeting the diverse nutrition needs of clients, even accommodating specific dietary restrictions. Beyond the plate, Kyria hosts engaging weekly groups focusing on nutrition education, food preparation, and cultivating healthy eating habits.

The escalation of substance abuse comes with increasingly severe cravings and the inability to control consumption despite building negative consequences. In the same manner, those who have bulimia and binge eating disorders experience extreme cravings for food and feel a loss of control when over-consuming. Both food and addictive substances present ways to escape from or numb unwanted feelings. Up to 50% of people with an eating disorder abuse drugs or alcohol, which is five times the rate of the general population.

Fats

Alcohol can disrupt the gut microbiota and promote an overgrowth of “bad” bacteria⁠. When you cut out alcohol, your gut works to regain its natural balance, which can improve digestion, absorption of nutrients, and serotonin production. Improving your gut health can also make your liver and kidneys more efficient at detoxing. Hemoglobin helps your red blood cells carry oxygen to your body’s organs and tissues, then transports carbon dioxide from those organs and tissues back to your lungs.

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.

Whole grains, such as oats, brown rice and quinoa, are essential to a recovery diet as they are rich in B vitamins and fiber. Alcohol depletes these vitamins, so replenishing them is key to recovery. Fruits and vegetables also contain many compounds that can aid in liver detoxification. While they won’t repair permanent liver damage, they can speed recovery. They also help maintain a healthy digestive system, which can be disrupted by alcohol. Incorporating a variety of fruits and vegetables into your daily diet ensures a wide array of these beneficial compounds.

Other Effective Tips for Alcohol Recovery

Sustained drug and alcohol abuse bombards the body with constant stress, damaging the proper day to day functions of both body and mind. Adhering to the proper nutritional guidelines can help heal this damage. The consumption of alcohol tricks the body into thinking it’s been fed by providing the calories that would otherwise come from more nutrient-rich food. For a healthy, balanced diet, experts advise 45% carbohydrates, 30% healthy fats and 25% protein. Sticking close to these numbers can promote recovery and help alleviate some of the stress detox puts on your body. Excess processed foods can lead to weight gain, elevated blood pressure and increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer.