Depending on your drug and alcohol of choice, detox can be an extremely uncomfortable experience, especially if it’s your first time going through the process.
Fortunately, there are a number of vitamins that have been shown to help you through this difficult period and even make the process easier to handle.
Detoxing from drugs or alcohol can be tough. The symptoms of withdrawal can range in severity depending on how long you’ve been using substances, how much you use, your age, and your health status.
Common symptoms can include anxiety, sleeplessness, irritability, nausea, vomiting, fever and chills, as well as more intense symptoms like seizures.
It’s important to know that detoxing is not a one-time event but rather a process that may need to be repeated for several days or weeks in order for one’s body to clear itself of toxins.
In this post, we’ll take a look at which vitamins can help during this process.
1. Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)
Vitamin B1, or Thiamine, is a water-soluble vitamin found in many foods. One of its main functions is to convert carbohydrates into glucose for use by the brain and body. It can also play a role in reducing levels of homocysteine (a type of amino acid) in your blood.
Homocysteine has been linked to an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, dementia, diabetes, and other disorders.
This is why it’s important for people on drug or alcohol detox to consume enough Vitamin B1 in order to ensure that their bodies are functioning properly during this time.
You should try taking 400 milligrams of Vitamin B1 twice daily, as well as 500 milligrams of thiamin pyrophosphate once a day. Make sure you check with your doctor before taking any supplements though!
2. Vitamin C
The three most important vitamins for drug and alcohol detox are Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and Iron.
To get these vitamins through food you can eat fruit such as oranges, grapefruit, strawberries, avocados; leafy green vegetables like spinach, kale or collard greens; or red meat like beef, bison, or lamb.
You can also take supplements that will give you a higher dosage of these vitamins. When looking at supplements make sure to avoid any that contain sugar, corn syrup, wheat germ oil, soy lecithin, or artificial colors because those ingredients have been shown to interfere with the body’s ability to absorb nutrients.
3. Vitamin B
Another vitamin that is great for detoxing from drugs or alcohol is vitamin B or Niacin.
This vitamin can help lessen withdrawal symptoms like depression, anxiety, lack of appetite, and more. Niacin also helps blood flow throughout your body which can decrease pain levels during detoxing.
4. Vitamin A (Retinol)
The liver, which is responsible for both metabolizing alcohol and storing Vitamin A, might experience a drop in Vitamin A levels for a number of reasons.
One of the main reasons Vitamin A levels decrease can be due to drinking heavily over an extended period of time. The reason for this is because the body’s metabolic pathways for both drugs are quite similar.
Inadequate Vitamin A intake can be linked to night blindness, or nyctalopia, which is a symptom of alcohol use disorder. Taking Vitamin A during detox can be extremely helpful in more ways than one.
5. Calcium
Consuming alcoholic beverages can hinder the absorption of calcium. Due to the increased risk of osteoporosis associated with alcohol use, this can be a particularly serious issue for women.
If you’re taking calcium supplements during detox, soaking in some sun can help your body make more of the Vitamin D it needs to absorb the calcium.
6. Omega-3 Fatty Acids
If you’re going through a detox process, it’s important to make sure that your body is getting enough nutrients.
In particular, it’s important to make sure you have a good supply of Omega-3 Fatty Acids. These fatty acids are essential for brain function, heart health, and maintaining healthy skin and hair.
Omega-3’s can help with many things including the reduction of certain cravings, improvement of mood and mental state, helping to aid a good night’s sleep, and the lowering of stress levels. For those who are new to using fish oil we recommend taking it under the tongue as it will go directly into the bloodstream through this method.
One way to get these fatty acids into your diet is by taking a supplement such as fish oil or krill oil capsules. You should also try adding more high-fat seafood to your diet like wild salmon or sardines because they are rich in Omega-3s.
You should have a discussion with your doctor about how much fish oil would be best for you to take, because fish oil has been known to interfere with certain medications.
Plan on Detoxing at a Medical Facility You Can Trust
Home detoxification is not just challenging but it can also be potentially harmful. Detoxing from drugs or alcohol can be one of the most difficult things you will experience, but you do not have to do it alone.
The process of detoxification is an important step in addiction treatment, but it can also be challenging. Some people find that they experience severe withdrawal symptoms, including vomiting, headaches, anxiety, depression, insomnia, lack of appetite, and tremors.
Your withdrawal symptoms can be managed medically with the help of certain medications and vitamins. Your body can also begin the healing process with the support of nutritious meals provided in a hospital environment.
If you or someone you know needs help for addiction or co-occurring disorders, please give us a call. Innovo Detox offers the latest in evidence-based medical, psychiatric, and clinical care for those in need of detox and medical stabilization in Pennsylvania and the surrounding Mid-Atlantic area. If we aren’t the best fit for you or a loved one, we will take the necessary time to work with you to find a detox, rehab, treatment center or provider that better fits your needs. Please give us a call at (717) 931-7277 or email our team at info@innovodetox.com. For more information on our company or services, please visit our website at www.innovodetox.com.