The best foods for alcohol detox are those that can help the body heal. In early recovery, it is important to eat a healthy diet to allow your liver and other organs time to rest and recover from any damage they may have incurred during chronic drinking.

We need vitamins and minerals to make natural feel-good chemicals, GABA, in our bodies. They are also needed when the body makes energy, repairs organs, and strengthens immunity.

Certain foods are good for everyone when they are recovering from alcohol detox. The food should help you return to a healthy balance, and it should start at the beginning of recovery.

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Which Foods Provide the Best Nutrition in Addiction Recovery?

In general, anyone looking to maintain proper nutrition should focus on taking in whole foods. These include fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, nuts, and low-fat meats. This is especially important for someone looking to rebuild their immune system and overall health.

A person struggling with a substance abuse problem needs to eat well to nourish their body and mind. Proper nutrition gives the individual much-needed energy, making them feel better mentally, physically, and emotionally. A positive mood is also affected by proper nutrition because it can positively affect an individual’s outlook on life. This can lessen the risk of relapse, in some cases.

While it is important to pay attention to what types of foods nourish your body, some foods contain a lot of good things that help your body heal. As always, if you are unsure about whether or not you will have an allergy to a certain food, bring your concerns to your doctor.

Fruits and Vegetables For Alcohol Detox

Some of the best foods for alcohol detox are fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables contain a lot of fiber, which supports healthy digestion. This can make it easier on your stomach when going through withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea or vomiting.

The best fruits and vegetables for supporting healthy detox are:

Raspberries
Grapefruit
Apples
Cucumber
Lettuce (only in moderation)
Tomatoes
Pears
Oranges
Bananas

One of the best ways to curb that craving for sweets is by eating fruit. If you’re trying to detox from alcohol, fruits are a great way for you to get that sweet fix without getting too hungry between meals.

Whole Grains For Alcohol Detox

Whole grains are also rich in fiber, but also provide a slow release of sugar into a person’s system to help prevent mood swings. They also help you feel fuller for longer and provide ongoing energy.

The best whole grains to support alcohol detox are:

Brown rice
Quinoa
Whole wheat bread and pasta
Oatmeal
Barley

Some best grains to avoid during alcohol detox are white rice, processed cereal, and anything made with flour, or cornmeal. These options have no filter content which can lead to feeling sluggish after meals.

Foods That are High in Vitamins And Minerals For Alcohol Detox

Prolonged alcohol consumption can lead the body to become vitamin deficient. This is especially true when it comes to vitamin B. This vitamin is especially important when it comes to maintaining a healthy functioning brain and nervous system.

But alcoholism is also responsible for a lack of other essential vitamins such as vitamins A, D, and E. Lack of vitamin A can cause liver damage. Lack of vitamin D can cause the body to have difficulty absorbing calcium. This causes a loss of bone mass and density.

Vitamin deficiency, in turn, can make people recovering from alcohol addiction more vulnerable to illnesses and diseases like pneumonia. This is because their immune systems may be weak without the necessary vitamins for protection against these illnesses.

Foods that are high in vitamins and minerals include:

Milk
Beef
Chicken
Lean fish
Spinach
Broccoli
Natural fruit juice
Raisins and other dried fruit

Multivitamin supplements can also help you get the required amount of vitamins and minerals you need. Look for a multivitamin (or several) that contains omega 3 fatty acids, magnesium, zinc, and of course vitamins A, B, C, D, and E.

Nutrient-Packed Liquids For Alcohol Detox

Nutrient-rich liquids like soups, stews, and smoothies make up a crucial part of the recovery process. These types of foods are an important aspect in transitioning into healthy eating habits that will last long after rehab has ended because they provide comfort while restoring the gut function which was damaged by substance abuse.

The consumption of nutrient-dense fluids such as soup, stew, or juice is necessary for recovering from addiction to drugs and alcohol since these substances can put a major strain on your digestive system. This system needs to be functioning properly before any solid food can enter your body. Soups can offer some relief during detoxification when you’re still trying to restore personal health. It’s also less taxing on the body’s systems.

Not only are these types of foods rich in nutrients and easy for the body to digest, but they can also be hydrating. Maintaining hydration helps to cleanse drug metabolites from the body during early recovery, and can help ease detox symptoms like feeling sick or lightheaded.

Healthy Snack Items For Detox

Nuts are a great filling and healthy snack. If you have any cravings, nuts can help satisfy them without excessive added sugar. Nuts are also high in protein and can help provide nutrients such as protein, fiber, iron, and zinc (depending on the specific nut). There is also some evidence to suggest that certain types of nuts may even be able to boost energy levels.

Healthy nuts include:

Almonds
Walnuts
Hazelnuts
Pistachios
Brazil nuts
Cashews
Peanuts
Pecans

There are plenty of healthy snack options that will best serve your needs while in early recovery.

Cayenne Pepper For Alcohol Detox

Cayenne pepper is a natural spice that may help with alcohol detox because it contains capsaicin, which has been shown to have pain-relieving and appetite-stimulating effects. This can be helpful in early recovery, when cravings are likely high.

Capsaicin stimulates the release of endorphins, compounds that provide feelings of happiness. It can also help with the withdrawal symptoms that come with quitting drinking, such as nausea.

Recipes that contain cayenne pepper include:

Vegetable soup
Indian-style curry
Spicy marinades for meats
Chili con carne
Chili sauces

Electrolytes and Water For Alcohol Detox

If you are in recovery from alcohol addiction, one of the best foods for alcohol detox includes anything with electrolytes. Staying hydrated is vital to any recovery plan, and many drinks contain electrolytes without featuring excess sugars.

Electrolytes control the balance of fluids in your body. They also regulate the acid-base balance, heart rate, and blood pressure. If you’re sweating a lot or feeling dehydrated from alcohol withdrawal symptoms, then foods with electrolytes may be very helpful for recovering.

Foods that contain lots of electrolytes and/or water include:

Yogurt
Avocados
Watermelon
Beans
Potatoes
Broccoli
Peaches
Green tea

In early recovery, our bodies are trying to reconnect and reconfigure their operating systems. More times than not we’re functioning at a very low frequency of energy while our organs, cells, and transmitters find a way to start healing. Staying hydrated, such as starting your morning with a glass of water, can help with maintaining energy throughout the day.

Foods to Avoid While Going Through Alcohol Detox

Unfortunately, the most important foods to avoid when overcoming withdrawal symptoms are greasy, fatty food and too much sugar.

First and foremost, regular alcohol use over time can some of the body’s vitamin stores. This can lead to deficiencies in vitamins B6, thiamine Folic acid as well as more. As a result, it’s important to to eat extremely healthy with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and other nutrient-rich foods to build up vitamin stores again.

It’s empowering to strengthen the body during detox. This can help to fight off any potential side effects from alcohol withdrawal, such as feelings of depression, anxiety, irritability, etc..

Eating junk food can lead to a host of health problems, such as weight gain, high cholesterol, and blood pressure. Junk foods’ tendency to make you feel depressed or sluggish can also affect your mental state in addition to bodily organs like the heart and liver.

Foods that may be best to avoid during alcohol detox include:

Candy bars
Cookies
Caffeine
Fast food
Fried food
Ice cream
Soda

You need foods to help aid in recovery, not make it more difficult.

Alcohol Withdrawal and Food Cravings

It’s normal for recovering alcoholics to desperately crave sugar, to the point that they may struggle to eat anything else. This can be due to neurotransmitter imbalances, fluctuations in blood sugar content, or being inclined to addiction. It can also be a combination of all of the above, as the brain and body struggle to get over the addiction and begin to look for other sources of serotonin (and other “feel good” chemicals).

Of course, these same imbalances can cause someone to crave alcohol. This can be a serious problem, for obvious reasons.

Learn More About the Best Foods For Detox at Granite Mountain Behavioral Healthcare

At Granite Mountain, we know that what you put in your body is crucial to your overall recovery. Our chefs and nutritionists are trained to provide a well-balanced diet for people recovering from drug or alcohol addiction, so they can take in the right nutrients every day.

We’ll also give you tools so that once you are discharged from your inpatient or outpatient treatment program, it’s easy for you to continue eating healthy at home again. Individual therapy is available to help you feel empowered and prepared to build a new life of recovery.

Learn more about addiction rehabilitation therapy and treatment here at GMBHC and contact us today.

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