Natural Supplements to Curb Drinking Alcohol

Six percent of men and 3 percent of women in the United States are alcoholics, according to statistics from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. An estimated 1.5 million alcoholics a year seek out some form of treatment. The use of natural supplements to curb alcohol drinking is an approach based on restoring the body's nutritional balance.

Origins

• Alcohol used on a regular basis affects the body's physiological health. Over time, physiological imbalances result in the body's craving for alcohol. And while certain psychological factors contribute to these cravings, the presence of vitamin and mineral deficiencies can further work to aggravate psychological cravings as well. The use of natural supplements to curb alcohol consumption is based on the body's ability to repair itself when the needed nutrients are present and available.

Process

• Blood glucose levels in the body determine how much energy is available for use. When these levels drop, the body requires replenishing. Alcohol's rapid absorption rate provides a quick energy boost as a result of alcohol's effects within the brain. People who drink on a regular basis may, in effect, crave alcohol in the place of food due to this quick absorption rate. The only problem with this is alcohol has no nutritional value.

Effects

• Over time, the body's organs begin to show signs of damage from neglected nutritional needs. The liver is responsible for digesting alcohol, and it's the first organ to deteriorate. The more damage it undergoes, the less it's able to process other nutrients needed by the body. As a result, amino acid imbalances, a decreased ability to store vitamins, an inability to synthesize proteins and poor food digestion affect the body's overall ability to function normally. This same deterioration process occurs within other organs as well.

Types

• Magnesium, zinc and B-complex vitamins are some of the minerals lost in the digestion process as a result of alcohol. The anti-oxidant properties of vitamins C and E are good for countering organ damage. Milk thistle extract is known for its ability to promote healthy liver function. Lactobacillus acidophilus is a supplement used to promote healthy intestinal tract lining. A dietary regimen that restores the body's nutritional balance works to reduce ongoing damage and rebuilds needed energy reserves.

Benefits

• Nutritional considerations are especially important when a person chooses to abstain from alcohol altogether. Restoring nutritional balance can work to reduce withdrawal symptoms as well as the psychological effects from abstinence. As the body's natural balance is restored, psychological effects from drinking begin to stabilize as the brain receives the nutrients it needs to function normally. And while natural treatment approaches may curb alcohol drinking, they're not meant to replace the need for detox, or support groups when a person is trying to abstain.