These self-help tips on how to detox the body from alcohol abuse will help both alcoholics and non-alcoholics who need to fortify and strengthen the body's immune system after heavy drinking.
This advice is not meant for advanced alcoholics, or those suffering from alcohol poisoning. Advanced alcoholics should seek professional alcohol treatment or consider going to a rehab center or detox center.
This article should not take the place of professional alcohol treatment if withdrawal symptoms of advanced alcoholism are present. Some of these symptoms include delirium tremens ("DTs"), derealization, seizures, extreme agitation or excitability. Withdrawal from alcohol can be fatal in advanced alcoholics and very heavy drinkers if not supervised or treated correctly.
What is Alcohol Detoxification?
Alcohol detoxification is not a treatment for alcoholism. The best treatment for alcoholism is making the decision to quit. Some treatments involve support groups, others involve medical help or recovery centers.
Once the decision to quit has been made, the body needs to detoxify to return to homeostasis. Detoxification of alcohol involves re-hydrating the body to assist itself in repairing damage done by overindulging; flushing the toxins from the body, namely the liver; and fortifying the body to help it rebuild and repair.
Drinking Water to Prevent Dehydration and Help With Alcohol Detox
In the book, Your Body's Many Cries for Water: You Are Not Sick, You Are Thirsty, Dr. Batmanghelidj, an M.D., explains that a vast majority of American's thirst mechanism is extremely impaired. Dr. Batmanghelidj insists that when thirst is felt in the throat, that is the body's last, desperate cry for water, not the first indication.
The body needs water at the cellular level to function. Detoxing from alcohol is very taxing on the body's functions, and on the immune system. Good, filtered water, drunk in appropriate amounts throughout the day helps to fortify the cells, as well as flush the toxins from the body.
Most experts agree that a person should drink in ounces, half the weight of the body. For example, a 160-pound person should consume 80 ounces of water.
Remember, coffee and other drinks count as fluids, but not as water intake. This is also explained in Dr. Batmanghelidj's book.
Juicing with Vegetables and Fruits to Cleanse the Liver and Strengthen the Immune System
Beets are excellent for sugar production, which is important for the recovering alcoholic. "Beet roots have long been used for medicinal purposes, primarily focusing on disorders of the liver," according to Michael T. Murray, N.D., author of the Complete Book of Juicing.
Juice a beet root with the leaves if they are fresh, but don't do more than one, as there will be a very unpleasant nauseous feeling after ingesting if overdone. Juice the beet with apples to sweeten the earthy taste of the root vegetable. Granny Smith apples are good, as the tartness gives the juice a nice kick to the taste. Carrots can be added, as well, to fortify the immune system. Many juicing recipes to detox the liver from alcohol abuse include beets, carrots and apples.
When doing self detoxification from alcohol, juicing one beet daily is recommended to help the liver cleanse and repair as quickly as possible. Find out more about the Nutritional Benefits of Juicing Vegetables for the recovering alcoholic.
Herbs, Supplements and Diet to Help the Body Detox from Alcohol Abuse
Most local health food stores or natural foods stores will have a section of herbs and supplements, as well as a helpful person to ask questions for recommendations. Remember that herbs can be as powerful as pharmaceutical drugs, so proceed with caution after researching information for yourself.
One important vitamin for the alcoholic who is self detoxifying is B-100 in liquid form. This is a complex of all of the B vitamins which help the body deal more effectively with physiological stress, as well as emotional stress. This vitamin can also help with depression, but does not substitute for medical help in cases of clinical or severe depression.
Recovering alcoholics should be gentle with themselves during recovery, as the body is under a lot of stress during recovery. Elements of this detox program are basic, just take one self-help tip at a time.
Recovery from alcohol abuse is a process. Rebuilding and fortifying the body is a process. The process takes time. Don't get overwhelmed and try to follow all of the advice in this article all at once. Even doing something as simple as drinking more water can have wonderful benefits for feeling better and cleansing the body.
Additional Sources and Resources
Recovering Alcoholics, Sugar, and Energy Levels
The Cleanse Cookbook by Christine Dreher
How to Quit Drinking on Your Own
Food For Recovery by Joseph D. Beasley , M.D. and Susan Knightly
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