Aid Recovery from Alcohol Abuse with a Nourishing Diet

(NaturalNews) Nearly everyone that abuses alcohol is malnourished. This leads to serious health risks. The good news is recovery and future health can be greatly enhanced with the right nutrition.

Nearly 14 million people in the United States abuse alcohol. That is 1 in every 13 adults. Cirrhosis of the liver resulting from alcohol abuse is among the 10 leading causes of death in the United States. Worldwide, 3.6% of cancer cases are alcohol related and that is a modest statistic.

95% of alcohol consumed must be metabolized in the liver. This process requires a lot of work and becomes a priority above other necessary functions.

Alcohol abuse can also lead to dehydration, anemia, osteoporosis, leaky gut syndrome, ulcers, pancreatitis, gallstones and cardiovascular disease. And it increases the risk of hypoglycemia, diabetes and neuropathy due to nerve damage.

Almost all alcoholic drinkers are malnourished and nutritional deficiency becomes serious. Alcohol robs the body of needed nutrients and interrupts vital functions. Many of the health problems that may occur are due to the depletion of needed minerals and vitamins. These may include calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc, vitamin C and most of the B vitamins. With liver impairment absorption of the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K is also reduced. The body receives a lot of calories and little nutrition. Cells weaken from starvation and become prone to disease.

Alcohol is a simple sugar that is rapidly absorbed. It contains empty calories and coverts to fat. One beer has around the same instant caloric value of 10 teaspoons of white sugar.

It can be a dual addiction of both alcohol and sugar. It's the reason many newly recovering alcoholics find they have a craving for sweets. If sugar is avoided when drinking stops the cravings for the sugar will diminish in a few weeks and usually disappear altogether after several months. However, if sugar consumption continues, the fluctuating blood sugar levels can trigger cravings for alcohol.

Diet and supplement therapy can play a big role in physical recovery. The use of plenty of fluids, alkaline foods and additional vitamins and minerals eases the initial detox. Adding more vitamin C and a B complex along with some specific minerals such as calcium, magnesium and potassium can help to replenish the body of these depleted nutrients. The amino acid L-glutamine is also useful to reduce cravings.

The body will begin to eliminate the alcohol and other toxins and it will also begin breaking down some of the fat. Due to fluctuating blood sugar levels, some basic hypoglycemic protocols are suggested. This means avoiding sweets and refined foods. The more processed foods avoided the better.

The right foods can help to stabilize blood sugar and counter cravings. Protein and complex carbohydrates are needed. This would include a variety of vegetables and leafy greens with the addition of fruit, legumes, organic cheese, beans and whole grains such as brown rice, wild rice and quinoa. Some healthy fats to add (in modest amounts) can be olive oil, nuts, seeds, flaxseed and avocados. It's also important to get a lot of fluids. Drinking water throughout the day will help the process of moving alcohol and its by-products out of the body and aid in hydration.

A diet full of the nutrients can help to minimize some of the potential problems that can surface due to alcohol abuse. Following these suggestions can reduce cravings, aid in the physical recovery process and move you toward vibrant health.

By: Linda Carlson

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I found out that a close friend of one of my niece's died on Saturday in a car accident that involved a drunk driver. While reading about it I came across this video. I have never seen a commercial quite like it and believe that everyone should watch it, especially people who drink.

Eleny

Craft Your Own Lip Balm

Lip balm is truly one of the easiest and most inexpensive products to create. Not only is crafting your own surprisingly simple, you'll have full control over all of the ingredients and the satisfaction of knowing that you're putting pure, natural, and organic elements on your lips!

Three recipes are listed below, but feel free to experiment and create your own! See our guide at the end for tips on making your own recipes.

Mandarin Nutmeg Lip Balm

This sweet, citrusy, and warming lip balm has just a hint of spice. Made with Mandarin and Nutmeg essential oils, Mango Butter, Sunflower oil, and other botanical ingredients.

1 Tablespoon Mango Butter
2 Tablespoons Sunflower Oil
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1 Tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon Beeswax
15 drops Mandarin Essential Oil
5 drops Nutmeg Essential Oil
A few drops of Vitamin E Oil (optional, but recommended)

Lip balm preparation: Coarsely chop the beeswax or use beeswax pastilles. Place beeswax, butter, and oils in a small pot or glass Pyrex measuring cup and gently heat in the top of a double boiler until the beeswax and butters have melted. Once melted, remove from the stovetop and add essential oils and Vitamin E Oil. Immediately pour the mixture into lip balm containers. You can purchase lip balm tubes and jars, or you can reuse glass or plastic containers. Allow to cool completely before placing caps onto the lip balm containers. Your lip balm is finished! You can now add labels, ribbons, twine, or any other decorative elements. Makes approximately 1.5 oz of lip balm, enough to fill 10 lip balm tubes, 6 of our 1/4 oz plastic jars, or 3 1/2 oz tins or plastic jars.

Learn more @ Mountain Rose Herb.

Natural remedies for a Cold and Flu

Herbs for Cold and Flu

Ah, winter. Yes, it's cold and flu season again and you're looking for some relief. Although colds and flus are caused by different types of viruses, both can leave you feeling tired, coughing, feverish, achy and foggy-headed.

You've probably discovered that conventional medicine has little to offer the bleary-eyed sufferer. Over-the-counter remedies such as aspirin, and even prescription drugs, only suppress symptoms; they don't cure the illness or make you well any faster. While antihistamines dry sinuses, they can also irritate your nose and throat and prolong the infection. As for antibiotics, including penicillin, they don't target viruses at all and should only be prescribed if a bacterial infection follows the cold or flu.

Simply suppressing symptoms can impair your body's natural ability to fend off disease. Symptoms tell you what's wrong and what to do about it. Headaches, sore muscles and feeling tired indicate that you need rest, and fever or indigestion is a sign to eat lightly.

Herbal treatments help your body heal itself and boost natural immunity. Your cold or flu probably won't disappear immediately, but chances are you will get well sooner and more completely. Then, when next winter rolls along, you may be less likely to pick up a cold. You'll find plenty of herbal cold and flu remedies in the health-food store, or follow my simple recipes to make your own. In either case, have these remedies on hand in your medicine cabinet so that when the next cold or flu strikes, you'll be prepared.

Antiviral herbs

Researchers have discovered that some herbs destroy viruses, and they're studying ways to turn these herbs into pharmaceuticals. But you needn't wait. Among the herbs that have already been found to inhibit viruses, including the flu, are Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus). Also packing an antiviral punch are Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis), Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis), Peppermint (Mentha piperita) and Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia). All of these herbs also foil bacteria responsible for infections of the throat, lungs, sinuses, ears and eyes that often tag on the heels of a cold or flu. In addition, they relax coughing spasms, aid digestion, and lower a fever by encouraging circulation and sweating. Tannin compounds found in other herbs such as White Oak bark (Quercus alba) and Bayberry (Myrica cerifera) destroy flu and other types of viruses, so it's no wonder they are traditional cold and flu treatments. You can even eat your way to good health by seasoning your food with Garlic (Allium sativum), Thyme (Thymus vulgaris), Marjoram (Origanum majorana), Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) and Black Pepper (Piper nigrum) to eradicate viral and bacterial infections. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is not only antiviral, it also lowers fevers and reduces muscle soreness.

If you are looking for ways to make the medicine go down easier, mix cold and flu herbs with virus-fighting apple or grape juice. You can also make your own Ginger ale by adding sparkling bottled water to Ginger tea. Or, try Elderberry (Sambucus nigra), which is not only sold as a part of herbal formulas but as pleasant-tasting tonic juice. Researcher Madeleine Mumcuoglu first learned about Elderberries' long history of use as a flu remedy from her mentor, Jean Linderman, Ph.D., who found that the berries help prevent the flu virus from invading healthy cells. Flu sufferers in her study got better faster with Elderberry compared to drug medications.

Learn more @ Mountain Rose Herb.

Animaniacs Be Careful What you Eat

Animaniacs Be Careful What you Eat
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