The best foods for alcohol detox are those that will help the body heal. In early recovery, it is important to eat a healthy diet so as 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 get back to a healthy balance, and it should start at the beginning of recovery.
Which Foods Provide The Best Nutrition In Addiction Recovery?
In general, anyone looking to maintain proper nutrition should focus on whole foods like 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 for 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–lessening the risk of relapse in some cases.
While it is important to pay attention to what types of foods you can and cannot eat, 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 issue with a certain food, consult with your doctor.
Fruits And Vegetables For Alcohol Detox
The best foods for alcohol detox are fruits and vegetables. The best time to eat these is in the morning because they will help clean your system out while you sleep at night. Fruits and vegetables contain a lot of fiber that helps with digestion which can make it easier on your stomach when going through withdrawal symptoms such as nausea or vomiting.
The best fruits and vegetables for alcohol 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 in 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. You should strive to have at least one serving of whole grains a day.
The best whole grains for 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 you to feel sluggish after meals.
Foods That Are High In Vitamins And Minerals For Alcohol Detox
Prolonged alcohol consumption can lead your body to be vitamin deficient. This is especially true when it comes to vitamin B. This vitamin is especially important when it comes to 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, makes alcoholics more vulnerable to illnesses and diseases like pneumonia or tuberculosis since their immune systems are 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
- Orange 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 needs to be functioning properly before any solid food can enter your body. Soups (and other liquid dishes) offer some relief during detoxification when you’re still trying to get back onto the firm dietary ground again; it’s also less taxing on our systems
Not only are these types of foods rich in nutrients and easy for the body to digest, but they can also be hydrating. This is important because hydration helps get drug metabolites out of the body during early recovery and can ease detox symptoms like feeling sick or lightheaded.
Healthy Snack Items For Alcohol Detox
Nuts are a great filling and healthy snack. If you have any cravings, nuts can help satisfy those wants without all the added sugar that might come from other snacks like cookies or candy bars because they’re high in protein rather than calories.
There is also some evidence to suggest that certain types of nuts may even be able to boost energy levels- so if your mood swings as it relates to hunger or blood sugar drops, keep plenty on hand!
Nuts make great fillers that can help with recovery by providing nutrients such as protein, fiber, iron, and zinc; the latter three have been shown scientifically to protect against various types of cancer when consumed regularly through food sources.
Healthy snacks include:
- Almonds
- Walnuts
- Hazelnuts
- Pistachios
- Brazil nuts
- Cashews
- Peanuts
- Pecans.
Many people find that they can’t resist the craving for something sweet. However, 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 also helps with the withdrawal symptoms that come with quitting drinking such as nausea. Adding a dash of cayenne pepper will give you an extra boost on your journey out from under addiction.
Recipes that contain cayenne pepper
- Vegetable soup
- Indian Curry
- Spicy marinades for meats
- Chili con carne
- Chili sauce
Electrolytes And Water For Alcohol Detox
If you are in recovery from alcohol, one of the best foods for alcohol detox includes anything with electrolytes. And of course, water is vital to any recovery plan.
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 these best foods for alcohol detox may be just what you need to recover quickly and safely!
Foods that contain lots of electrolytes and/or water:
- 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. Start your morning with a glass of water, and it will help you stay hydrated during 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 destroys some of the body’s vitamin stores leading to deficiencies in vitamins B6, thiamine Folic acid as well as more. As a result, you need to eat extremely healthy with plenty of fruit vegetables, and other nutrient-rich foods in order to build up your stores again.
You want your body strong enough to fight off any potential side effects from alcohol withdrawal, such as depression, anxiety, irritability, etc…
Foods you should avoid during alcohol detox:
- Candy bars
- Cookies
- Caffeine
- Fast food
- Fried food
- Ice cream
- Soda pop
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. You need foods to help aid in recovery, not make it more difficult.
Alcohol Withdrawal And Food Cravings That Commonly Occur
It’s normal for recovering alcoholics to desperately crave sugar to the point that they struggle to eat anything else. This is usually due to neurotransmitter imbalances, fluctuations in blood sugar content or just having an addictive personality.
Realistically, it’s probably a combination of all of the above, as the brain and body struggle to get over their addiction and begin to look for other sources of serotonin and other “feel good” chemicals.
Of course, these same chemicals can cause you to crave drinking again which can be a serious problem for former alcoholics for obvious reasons. These imbalances will continue to keep your system craving alcohol.
Learn More About The Best Foods In Our Alcohol Detox Program
At Granite Mountain Behavioral Health Center, we know that what you put in your body is just as crucial to your overall recovery. That’s why our chefs and nutritionists are trained to provide a well-balanced diet for recovering drug or alcohol addicts such as yourself who need the right nutrients every day.
We’ll also give you tools so that once discharged from treatment, it can be easy for you to continue eating healthy at home again with nothing more than a phone call away––just like when I was transitioning back into my life after discharge!
For more information about how much of an impact food has on addiction rehabilitation therapy here at GMBHC and get started on this journey today by contacting us now.