If you are suffering from alcohol withdrawal, chances are you will not be that hungry (completely understandable, considering your situation). Keep in mind that you have been downing gallons of alcohol over the course of months or even years. As a result, your body’s ability to metabolize and process food will be a bit helter-skelter for a time, but you must be patient. Once your symptoms of alcohol detox and withdrawal have improved, you can start eating foods again. Still, what foods should you consume? Which ones should you avoid? Let’s take a closer look and find out more information about the proper diet for alcohol withdrawal.
Get Plenty of Water
Particularly unpleasant cases of long-term alcohol withdrawal can trigger severe side effects like restlessness, insomnia, and, possibly worst of all, vomiting. While alcohol itself is dehydrating, you also have to remember that, in the process of throwing up or sweating, you are losing pints of water. If you feel sick, grab a glass of water to rehydrate and get stronger. It will do wonders.
Go Gentle on the Body
Once you feel strong enough to start eating good food again, you still want to go easy on yourself. Remember, your body has gone through war during withdrawal, so you want to reintroduce foods slowly, as you would do with food poisoning or the flu. Eat lots of veggies, lean protein like fish or chicken, and a lot of legumes for energy.
The Bs Knees
Keep in mind that alcohol puts a damper on the absorption of vitamin B in your body. As a result, you will want to start eating foods that are vitamin B-rich. Eggs, beans, pasta, nuts, and unrefined breads are excellent sources of thiamine, a B-vitamin that creates energy. Likewise, eat more fruits and leafy veggies to get a healthy supply of folic acid and sample some meat, eggs, and milk, if you aren’t lactose intolerant, to get your B-12 intake.
Seeking Treatment for Alcohol Abuse or Alcoholism
Alcohol withdrawal can easily be one of the most frightening aspects of healing. During the course of the recovery process, you will suffer from minor to severe symptoms that may include night sweats, hallucinations, fevers, anxiety, and sadness, but always remember that you can find the strength to overcome these problems. However, you must always seek medical attention when you have decided to cut ties with alcohol, as the withdrawal process can be notoriously dangerous. Never attempt to do this without the supervision of a trained specialist.
If you are suffering from a severe case of alcoholism or alcohol abuse, or have a friend or loved one who is coping with this illness, get in touch with Asana Recovery today. Our professional team of counselors and healthcare experts will help you endure the painful process of alcohol withdrawal and detox and guide you along the rocky road of rehabilitation. Soon enough, you will experience a faster and much more efficient recovery.
If you want to find out more about our residential treatment or supervised detoxification/withdrawal programs or enroll in one of these programs today, we are ready and waiting to speak with you at your leisure and your disclosure. Call Asana now at (949) 438-4504 to learn how you can overcome your mental illness and take an extra step toward becoming a healthier person.