I have frequently heard alcoholics who are in early recovery remark that, "If this is what recovery is like, I'd rather go back to drinking." Vitamin deficiencies, particularly of the B vitamins and vitamin C, may be responsible for much of the lethargy, skin irritation, memory loss and depression experienced by people who are newly recovering from an addiction to alcohol. Though these symptoms may have been ongoing while the alcoholic was actively drinking they may seem less tolerable while not under the influence of alcohol.
Alcoholics often replace food consumption with alcohol. Unfortunately, the calories gained from alcohol are what are frequently referred to as "empty calories." That is, they are calories lacking nutrients and of little value to the body. Additionally, alcohol gets in the way of the body absorbing and using the vitamins and minerals of the food that the alcoholic does eat. The combined effect is to leave the alcoholic nutrient poor.
Individuals in recovery can benefit from a healthy diet and a vitamin regimen.* Vitamin B in general, and particularly vitamins B1 (thiamin), B3 (niacin) and B5 (Pantothenic Acid) play a role in turning sugars into energy. Pork is one of the best sources of B1, other sources include cereals and nuts. B2 can also be found in pork and fortified cereals, as well as, salmon and swordfish. Whole grains, milk, eggs, and liver are perhaps the best food sources for Pantothenic Acid.
Meanwhile, B6 and B12 play important roles in producing blood cells and the health of the nervous system. Both of these important vitamins are frequently depleted by years of heavy drinking. Good sources for both of these are meat. Additionally, B6 is found in bananas, avocados, and peanuts. B12 is only found in animal by products; however, this list includes dairy and eggs.
Vitamin C, plays an important role in keeping the skin healthy, and plays an equally important role in the health of bones, teeth and blood vessels. Deficiencies in vitamin C can also be responsible for irritability, weakness and muscle fatigue. The best and most consumed source of vitamin C in the United States is orange juice from frozen concentrate. Other sources of vitamin C include citrus fruits, broccoli, potatoes and cantaloupe.
For the average American, eating a healthy diet, vitamin B and C supplements are often unnecessary. However, early in their recovery, alcoholics should seek the advice of a doctor about a proper regime of vitamins and diet. Paying attention to health matters can increase the chances of successful recovery from alcohol addiction.
*For a good comparison chart of vitamins see the patient article section on the University of Maryland Medical Center website.
About the Author: David Westbrook has worked in the field of crisis intervention and addictions for several years. He is the host of http://www.alcoholismresources.com If you are interested in contracting him to write articles for you, contact him at http://www.alcoholismresources.com
bedroom cleaning professionals Bannockburn ..Have you ever purchased something thinking you had bought a... Read More
Are you not feeling any results from your nutritional supplements?Here... Read More
If glyconutrients are for real, why aren't they all over... Read More
Moderate amounts of vitamin E in the diet can protect... Read More
In parts one, two and three of this series, titled... Read More
Free radicals and oxyradicals play an important role in the... Read More
There are two basic types of constipation - organic and... Read More
Sometimes I ask myself why this wonderful antioxidant supplement was... Read More
Food is one of our most basic needs. However, in... Read More
Most healthy eaters are familiar with the three macronutrients that... Read More
Over the past few years, Coral Calcium has received a... Read More
BCAA stands for branched chain amino acids and is increasingly... Read More
What exactly are phytoestrogens, and how can we use them... Read More
I recently heard of an older couple that eats salmon... Read More
Vitamin B6 is the hardest working nutrient in the human... Read More
One of the questions that I frequently get asked is... Read More
Have you heard of the herbal supplement with the very... Read More
If you break the word apart, Nutra has to do... Read More
L glutamine is an amino acid occurring abundantly within the... Read More
Everyone has an occasional sleepless night, and this is not... Read More
The growing numbers of health conscious people today living more... Read More
Because whey protein products have a wide variety of uses... Read More
What's the best muscle building supplement available today? You might... Read More
Hyaluronic acid is available in a variety of products ranging... Read More
Folic acid is actually just one of the many vitamins... Read More
Airbnb cleaning service Bannockburn ..While America has given birth to the song "Young at... Read More
A lot of people take vitamins A, C, B and... Read More
We all want healthy skin. While the main reasons for... Read More
The growing numbers of health conscious people today living more... Read More
Since its discovery in the late 1950???s Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)... Read More
Do you ever wonder why the experts keep saying that... Read More
Coenzyme Q10 has exploded onto the health scene. This powerful... Read More
Coral Calcium is an excellent source of readily accessible and... Read More
One of the most apparent influences modern times has brought... Read More
The malabsorptive nature of the gastric bypass system prohibits adequate... Read More
Vitamin B5 or pantothenic acid plays a supporting role in... Read More
Made from cow's milk, whey protein is a pure, all-natural,... Read More
There is a huge market when it comes to vitamins.... Read More
Sometimes I used to look at my son Shawn and... Read More
Since the 1960???s there have been numerous controlled clinical trials... Read More
Fetuses and infants simply must get enough omega-3 oils for... Read More
Over the last 2 years, the link between weight gain... Read More
What if there was a solution to protecting and restoring... Read More
It is important to understand that we are ultimately responsible... Read More
The last year hasn't been a good one for vitamin... Read More
The Connection Between Brain Inflammation, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's DiseaseThe evidence... Read More
A popular mineral today, coral calcium, is mainly calcium, but... Read More
The body needs a minimum amount of vitamins and minerals... Read More
PART TWOFor those of you that read my previous article... Read More
There are a number of pros and cons for vitamin... Read More
Nutritional Supplements |