This occurs as both substances use similar pathways in the body to metabolize them. However, people who misuse alcohol may eat less food and commonly have deficiencies in zinc, magnesium, selenium, protein, and certain vitamins. You’ll need to be especially careful not to replace alcohol with sugar or caffeine. Filling up on them makes it harder to eat enough healthy food. They can also affect your mood when they wear off, which could make you want to drink.

One other major thing to note is that it is highly recommended to only give Suboxone to teens 16 years of age and older. As someone who tried to slog out the highs and lows of sobriety, I can tell you that time by itself is not enough for recovery. In this guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know about using nutrition to your benefit as you heal from addiction. Anyone who is struggling with a serious drinking problem should seek professional care. Deficiencies in vitamin B1 can lead to cell damage or cell death. Not getting enough of this vitamin can lead to anemia, depression, confusion, and a weak immune system.

Understanding Nutrition’s Role in Alcohol Recovery

While battling addiction, vitamins and nutrition are typically not prioritized. Not only that, drug and alcohol use can deplete necessary vitamin sources in our bodies. In other words, addiction can lead to vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

Taking 2 grams of vitamin C one hour before alcohol consumption increases the rate at which alcohol is cleared from the blood, and may reduce acute toxic effects on the liver (Chen 1990). This significance of this finding is limited by small study size and the absence of blinding and a control group. Deficiencies of vitamins A and C are common in people with alcoholism. Vitamin best vitamins for recovering alcoholics A is important for vision and nervous system health and vitamin C helps maintain your immune system. During alcohol withdrawal, your immune system health is compromised due to added stress, which hinders normal nervous system functions. The University of Michigan Health System suggests supplementing vitamin C to rid the body of excess alcohol during the initial withdrawal.

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That’s why it’s important to eat three meals a day plus snacks as your body heals. If you don’t feel hungry, think about taking nutritional supplements. Fruits and vegetables also contain many compounds that can aid in liver detoxification.

• In my experience, my nutritional deficiencies were resolved after one to three months of supplementation.
• It’s important for every person to develop healthy eating habits, but it’s crucial for people who are recovering from a drug or alcohol addiction.
• These may also help prevent or reduce alcohol-induced organ damage.

Heavy alcohol use affects many things in your body from cholesterol to triglyceride levels. Taking a calcium supplement is vital to continue strong and healthy bone development and growth. The recommended dosage of calcium for someone recovering from alcohol use is 1,000 mg per day. There are at least nutrients that have been clinically shown to help people quit drinking and repair their bodies. Which ones are most beneficial for you will depend on your biochemistry. Often there is a process of trial and error to determine the best possible supplement regimens, but luckily there are effective programs that can help.

Are there any specific meal plans recommended for recovering alcoholics?

There are holistic addiction treatment centers and substance use treatment programs that emphasize nutrition education, too. Chronic alcohol use can deplete your body of vitamins and minerals by reducing your appetite, interfering with nutrient absorption, and impairing your body’s ability to use nutrients effectively. Vitamins are crucial in recovery as they help with overall health.

• Caring for your whole self as you overcome alcohol addiction is critical to lasting success.
• However, alcohol consumption affects the metabolism of homocysteine (tHcy) because the enzyme cofactor for the conversion of tHcy to methionine is vitamin B12.
• Figure 3 summarizes the vitamins and their possible mechanisms of action against the liver injury caused by alcohol consumption.
• It also reduces the amount of time it takes to recover from drinking and also improves your quality of sleep.

Caring for your whole self as you overcome alcohol addiction is critical to lasting success. Restoring your body’s nutrient levels after quitting alcohol can benefit both your physical and mental well-being. This contributes to greater stability in recovery, making it easier to stick with sobriety. Taking supplements like vitamin C, NAC, and GABA may help replenish your nutrient stores, potentially reducing your cravings and easing your withdrawal symptoms.

Promising findings for certain B vitamins, vitamin C, magnesium and zinc.

Poultry, fish, non-citrus fruit, and starchy vegetables such as potatoes are good sources.

Research shows that DHM can increase the efficacy of enzymes that metabolize alcohol, helping your body to eliminate it faster. DHM also appears to reduce inflammation and fat accumulation in the liver, helping to guard against alcohol-related liver disease. If you’re currently dealing with AUD, it’s recommended that you talk with a healthcare professional about getting help.

Research shows that drinking a lot over a long time — as in alcohol use disorder — often leads to poor nutrition. Nutritional therapy, a treatment approach that involves nutrition education, changing your diet, and adding supplements, can help balance out this loss. Many people who struggle with their drinking don’t have enough L-glutamine in their systems. Adding this nutrient can help boost mood in recovery and reduce withdrawal symptoms, making it one of the best supplements for alcohol cravings. Using a multivitamin or B-complex vitamin during alcohol withdrawal is helpful for preventing malnourishment of nutrients. Most combination supplements have a higher standard dose for the individual vitamin.

It also helps greatly with anxiety, depression, and chronic pain. Our review updates the existing relationship between vitamins and their mechanism of action during the pathogenesis of ALD. Therefore, these variables should be addressed in future studies.