Alcoholism is a serious disease characterized by a strong craving for alcohol, physical dependency and a high tolerance for the effects of alcohol. According to Dr. Charles S. Lieber in the journal "Alcohol Research and Health," alcoholics are usually deficient in protein and vitamin A, due to poor nutrition and also due to damage to the liver by alcohol. Excessive alcohol consumption also causes impairment in nutrient absorption, so even if you're eating food, you may not be getting enough nutrients. It is for these reasons that nutritional help for alcoholics is important.
High Quality Proteins
According to Dr. Charles S. Lieber in "Alcohol Research and Health," alcoholics who get more than 30 percent of their total daily caloric intake from alcohol don't consume enough protein. Over time, this can lead to muscle wasting as well as nutritional deficiencies that cause impaired tissue repair and replacement. Consuming protein foods that are lower in saturated fats, including skinless white-meat poultry, fish, egg whites, low-fat dairy and lean red meat, can help replenish your body's supply.
Healthier Fats
Excess alcohol consumption can lead to a condition known as "fatty liver," in which dietary fat is deposited in the liver, rather than excreted as waste. Medium-chain triglycerides, as opposed to long-chain triglycerides, are more water-soluble and easier for an impaired digestive system to process. This means that fewer of these fats are left to be stored in the liver. Sources of medium-chain triglycerides include butter and coconut oil. Although these sources also contain saturated fats, given the nutritional deficiencies related to alcoholism and the benefits of medium-chain triglycerides, relatively small amounts of these fats appears to be therapeutic.
Whole Grain Products
Individuals with alcoholism are often deficient in many vitamins and in particular, the B-complex family of vitamins. A study published in the September 1976 issue of the "British Journal of Nutrition" found that individuals with chronic alcoholism living in Bombay had significant deficiencies of many of the B vitamins. Subsequent supplementation administration was able to reverse these deficiencies. The B-complex vitamins are necessary for metabolism as well as neurological functioning and a deficiency of one B vitamin can cause impaired absorption of other vitamins. Whole grain products are rich in B vitamins as well as dietary fiber that can help slow digestion to allow for more nutrient absorption.
Fruits and Vegetables
Fresh fruits and vegetables are an excellent source of many nutrients, including antioxidants such as vitamin C. Replacement of healthy carbohydrates in your diet with alcohol can increase your risk of developing a fatty liver, according to Dr. Charles S. Lieber in "Alcohol Research and Health." Beta carotene and vitamin A deficiencies are common in alcoholics, he adds, and eating foods that naturally contain these nutrients is the best way to reverse the deficiency. Orange foods such as carrots are rich in vitamin A and beta-carotene, but these nutrients are also found in lesser amounts in other fruits and vegetables.
References
- "Alcohol, Research and Health"; Relationships Between Nutrition, Alcohol Use, and Liver Disease
- Medline Plus: Alcohol and Diet
- "Alcohol & Alcoholism"; The Effect of Chronic Alcohol Ingestion on Whole Body and Muscle Protein Synthesis - A Stable Isotope Study
- Nutrition Review: Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs)
- "The British Journal of Nutrition"; The B-Vitamins in Malnutrition With Alcoholism. A Model of Intervitamin Relationships.
- Medline Plus: Alcoholism
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