Alcoholism is a chronic health condition indicated
by a dependence
on alcohol which is actually a drug. This dependence can be physiological, psychological, or a combination of
both. On an estimated 75% of the American population that consumes alcohol,
1 in 10 people may be expected to have a problem with alcohol consumption. Alcoholism currently affects approximately
4 times as many men as women, but the incidence of alcoholism among women
has been rising, and is also rising with children, teens, high school,
and college students. Alcohol can affects people differently. Some may
become intoxicated with the first drink; other people may be able to
drink 4 to 5 alcoholic drinks before showing any effects. In alcoholics, every drink triggers a craving for
another drink. Alcoholics who quit drinking often experience withdrawal symptoms, especially during the first week.
Anxiety, insomnia,
hallucinations, convulsions, rapid pulse, heavy perspiration, and fever
may occur. After a while, these symptoms go away and the alcoholic has
to learn to not fall back into drinking and to solve their problems
other ways. Dietary nutritional supplements, while important for
everyone, are critical for alcoholics. Alcoholics need to supplement all
the known vitamins and minerals. See the table below of supplements
needed.
Nutrient /
Supplement |
Importance
( 1 - 10 ) |
Helpful notes |
B
vitamin complex |
10 |
The
B
vitamins are very important for the proper function of your brain and
the body's entire nervous system. They also help with
depression, alcoholism, worry, and stress. |
Multi-vitamin
& Mineral supplement |
10 |
A
daily supplement contains nutrients needed for good general
health and well being. Very important for the person with
alcoholism to heal and get the proper nutrients. |
Pantothenic
acid |
10 |
vitamin
B5 helps the body with alcohol detoxification |
Thiamine |
9 |
alcoholics
are often deficient in this vitamin B1 |
Bioflavonoids |
9 |
good
antioxidants that promotes healing and resistance to infection
which is normally a problem for alcoholics. |
L-Methionine |
9 |
helps
protect the liver |
Folic acid |
9 |
found
to be low in people with alcohol problems and a good multi-vitamin that includes folic acid can often
help. |
Essential
fatty acids |
9 |
aids in the transmission of
nerve impulses and needed for normal brain
function good sources of fatty acids include omega , flax seed, and borage seed. |
Glutathione |
9 |
protects
the liver and aids with the craving for alcohol |
Grape
seed extract |
8 |
strong
antioxidants for healing of cells |
Lecithin |
8 |
helps
fix fatty liver problems and may protect against cirrhosis |
Magnesium |
8 |
has a calming effect and works
on the nervous system of people with depression,
a magnesium and vitamin B combination works well. This mineral
is depleted by alcohol drinking. |
Calcium |
8 |
works
with the mineral magnesium |
Selenium |
7 |
mineral
needed due to malabsorption problems |
The social drinking turns into drinking for: calming down, perk up, one to celebrate,
“drown sorrows”, and other excuses. After a while the alcoholic needs no excuse to
drink and are very dependent upon the alcohol like an
addiction. Alcoholics often become ashamed and angry at their compulsive behavior, and
may have deep feelings of being inferior. This normally causes
even more alcohol abuse, as they use alcohol to numb their pain. They may also begin taking out their
anger and frustrations on people and relatives close to them. Alcoholism uniquely affects each person. Some people can drink
a lot of alcohol for years before becoming dependent, other
people may become addicted to alcohol on their first drink. There is
much debate if alcoholism is caused by genetics or environment.
There is evidence to support both, the truth is probably a
combination of many factors. Interestingly to the human body, alcohol is really a poison. Effects of chronic alcohol consumption include:
brain damage, duodenum problems, liver
damage, pancreas disorders like pacreatitis, and damage to the nervous system. Alcoholism
can cause metabolic damage to every cell in the human body.
It will depress and weaken the body's immune system. It can take years before the
damage of too much drinking become obvious, but if an alcoholic continues to drink,their life span may be
reduced by
10 years or even more. Alcohol is broken down in the liver. Constant drinking of alcohol inhibits the liver’s production of digestive enzymes,
affecting the body’s ability to absorb proteins, fats, and
vitamins A, D, E, and K, the B vitamins (like thiamine and
folic acid). Most essential nutrients are not retained for use by
the body; they are quickly removed by the urine. The toxic effect of alcohol on the liver is very serious. First, excessive amounts of fat accumulate in the liver, a result of alcohol’s effect on the body’s ability to digest fats properly. Next, the alcoholic may develop
hepatitis, a condition in which liver cells become inflamed and may die. The final, usually fatal, stage of alcoholic liver damage is cirrhosis of the liver, a disease characterized by inflammation, hardening, and scarring of the liver. This prevents the normal passage of blood through the liver, inhibiting the organ’s ability to
filter out toxins and foreign substances. The liver is one of the most robust organs of the body. It is the only organ that has the ability to regenerate itself after certain types of damage. Up to 25% of the liver can be removed, and
in a short period of time, it will grow back to its original shape and size. Alcohol is one of the toxins that the liver doesn’t handle as well as others. The liver cannot regenerate after being severely damaged by alcohol. There are many other health consequences of alcoholism as well. Alcoholics often
receive damage to their nervous systems. This damage may show up initially as a loss of sensation in the hands or feet,
and difficulty in walking. Chronic drinking also causes inflammation of the pancreas. This further
affects the body’s ability to digest fats and other nutrients, and can lead to
diabetes. Alcoholics face an increased risk of
both mouth and throat cancer due to the direct toxicity of the alcohol. They may also experience
high blood pressure, reduced testosterone
levels, and congestive heart failure. The social problems of alcoholism
are very destructive also. Alcohol abuse affects society by
car and other accidents, poor job performance, and emotional damage to
both friends and families including children. Drinking during pregnancy is particularly dangerous. The consumption of alcohol during pregnancy can cause birth defects and increases the chance of miscarriage. Alcohol passes through the mother’s placenta and
directly into the fetal circulation. This toxic substance depresses the central nervous system of the fetus. Further, the fetal liver must try to metabolize the alcohol, but since the fetus’s liver is not fully developed, the alcohol remains in the fetal circulation. Women who drink during pregnancy generally give birth to babies with lower birth weights. Their growth may be retarded or stunted; their brains may be smaller than normal, and there may be mental retardation as well. Limbs, joints, fingers, and facial features may be deformed. Heart and kidney defects may
also occur. Some children exposed to alcohol in utero become hyperactive at adolescence and exhibit learning disabilities. Every drink a pregnant woman consumes increases her child’s risk of being born with fetal alcohol syndrome, and also increases her chances of miscarriage. Even moderate amounts of alcohol may be harmful, especially in the first
3 - 4 months of pregnancy.
Other Changes To Make
-
drink 6-8 glasses of steam distilled or
filtered water a day
-
eat 50% raw fruits and vegetables (organic is best)
-
nuts, seeds, and whole grains are good
-
juice is good (make your
own with a juice machine)
-
do not worry as much about calories as eating the right foods
-
carrot and celery sticks are good to use as a snack
-
a colon cleansing can be very helpful - (do several times each year)
-
do not drink coffee, alcohol, soda pop, other junk food drinks
-
do not eat processed foods white sugar, white flour, etc...
-
use stress relief like going for walks in the park
(or the 10/90 rule - see
Stress)
-
brown rice is good to eat
-
avoid red meat and animal fats
-
reduce dairy products cheese, milk, and others
-
fast a few days a month
-
get at least 8 hours of sleep
-
exercise light to moderate amounts
-
avoid artificial sweeteners like Aspartame and NutraSweet
-
do not smoke and avoid second hand smoke
-
do not skip meals - just eat better and not as much at each meal
-
do not chew gum - it can cause you to feel hungry
-
do not watch too much TV try reading a book or something else
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