Vitamins for Alcoholics: Liver Recovery and Withdrawal

what vitamins should a recovering alcoholic take

Overall, taking vitamins after drinking alcohol is a great way to support your body’s recovery process and reduce long-term damage caused by excessive drinking. Because those who struggle with alcohol often have nutritional deficiencies, a zinc deficiency is possible, and supplementation can be helpful. Zinc may also help reset some of the glutamate brain pathways that are overly active during alcohol withdrawal, thus possibly helping alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

Struggling With Addiction or Mental health Issues?

what vitamins should a recovering alcoholic take

A lack of vitamin A can lead to liver damage, while a vitamin D deficiency disturbs the body’s absorption of calcium, leading to a loss of bone mass and density. When taken as directed, magnesium supplements are generally safe for mostindividuals. However, some people may experience side effects such asdiarrhea, nausea, and stomach cramps. It is important to follow therecommended dosage and best vitamins for recovering alcoholics consult with a healthcare professional if you have anyconcerns. Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it increases urine production and can leadto dehydration.

  • While there is no sure-fire way to prevent a hangover, some people swear by taking vitamins before drinking to reduce the severity of symptoms.
  • If you’re looking for the most necessary vitamins to include moving forward, this article is for you.
  • Not only will it help improve your overall health, but vitamins are known to aid in reducing hangovers and healing any damage that might be done from overindulging.

How Alcohol Causes Thiamine Deficiency

what vitamins should a recovering alcoholic take

It just means you have to make wise decisions about the medications you take for these conditions. And, above all, if you and your physician, with full knowledge of your history, feel that any of the above medications should be used, then they can be prescribed. However, they must be used with extreme caution and close supervision. A well-trained physician who understands addiction should be able to provide you with acceptable alternatives and the safest treatment plan. There is a variety of over-the-counter (OTC) medications that overlap and duplicate one another in effect, which can cause a lot of confusion.

Foods to Avoid in Addiction Recovery

Over 178,000 Americans die every year due to misuse of alcohol, making it the https://ecosoberhouse.com/ third most avoidable cause of death in the country. Even though these numbers are scary, only 7.6% of people who needed alcohol help in 2020 actually got it. Most people can benefit from alcohol therapy, especially if they seek it early enough since recognizing the stages and timeframe of alcoholism is critical for a successful recovery.

Detoxification process

If you are ready to put alcohol addiction in your past, call our helpline today to learn about our proven-effective programs. Magnesium can also help with twitches and cramps that are a natural part of alcohol withdrawal. In alcohol dependents, half of daily calories is from high alcohol intake. It eases inflammation and protects the thin layer that surrounds your brain cells, called the cell membrane. Canola, olive, safflower, sesame, and sunflower oils are good sources of healthy fats. Alcohol and poor eating can stop your liver from releasing glucose into your blood.

  • Also, self-reflection and taking care of your recovery can help heal deep scars that might led to your drinking pattern.
  • Magnesium may also aid in resetting some of the overly active glutamate-based brain pathways that cause alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
  • Additionally, chronic alcohol use may cause issues with metabolism, utilization, and absorption of vitamins.
  • A healthy alcohol detox diet can help to set the person’s body up for recovery.
  • Thiamine B1 is especially beneficial for alcoholics, as many experience deficiencies related to nerve problems.
  • Vitamin B1, or thiamine, is the most important vitamin that a recovering alcoholic should take.
  • While drinking plenty of water and getting a good night’s rest can help alleviate some of the symptoms, vitamins can play a role in hangover prevention as well.
  • When you drink, the alcohol suppresses your brain’s production of a chemical called antidiuretic hormone, or ADH.
  • This is why it’s so important to supplement with thiamine for withdrawal.
  • By doing these things, you can prevent vitamin deficiencies from becoming more severe and protect yourself from further health complications that may arise from alcohol consumption.

Alcohol use disorder can mean an individual experiences vitamin deficiencies, as alcohol can affect how the body absorbs and uses vitamins and nutrients. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) encompasses the symptoms an individual with alcohol use disorder experiences if they stop drinking suddenly, or reduce their alcohol intake significantly. While undergoing detox, addicts may suffer nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, which can further deplete nutrients and hydration amphetamine addiction treatment levels.

Alternatives to Taking Vitamins After Drinking Alcohol

Other studies have shown that omega-3 supplements reduce cravings for nicotine and reduce the number of cigarettes people smoke daily (26, 27). Research shows that increased anxiety is one of the primary reasons why substance abusers and alcoholics tend to relapse (23, 24). They can support your mitochondria and increase your brain’s growth hormone, and have been shown to improve mood, sleep, learning and memory. They also protect against psychiatric disorders including depression, mild cognitive impairment, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (19-21). Choline is an essential B vitamin that most people don’t consume enough of, because very few foods in the Western diet contain it.

what vitamins should a recovering alcoholic take

By modulating glutamate levels in the brain, NAC may help reduce the intensity of cravings for 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.

Importance of Thiamine for Alcoholics

what vitamins should a recovering alcoholic take

Vitamin E — Vitamins drugs may combat stress and act as antioxidants to battle skin and tissue damage. Vitamins and supplements may restore normal blood circulation for a recovering drug addict. Vitamin C — One helpful vitamin for recovering alcoholics and drug addicts is vitamin C, providing that one does not develop a vitamin C addiction.