Recovery From Alcoholism: Taking Vitamin B-Complex

Alcoholics who are in the stage of recovery will face physical and psychological challenges. The body of these people will have vitamin deficiencies as effects of their drinking habit. These deficiencies can be fixed by consuming vitamin B-complex supplements such as B12, B6, folate and thiamine.

The body of alcoholics will have to adjust to changes that are experienced as alcohol is over used. These changes include the functioning of the organs, metabolism of nutrients and the performance of the psychological processes. According to specialists of alcohol treatment, the body will be able to perform properly through a healthy diet. The diet that is combined with vitamin B supplements will ensure that an alcoholic is healthy to go through the recovery process. Before an alcoholic uses vitamin supplements, it is important to talk to a medical professional.

Folic Acid B Vitamin

This vitamin B is vital in metabolizing proteins and synthesizing DNA. This can be obtained from legumes, fortified cereals, citrus fruits and leafy green vegetables. Alcoholics tend to have a diet that is low in this vitamin which causes folate deficiency. Abusing alcohol may also disturb the absorption of folate despite enough amount of the nutrient in an alcoholic's diet. A recovering addict who is pregnant particularly requires dietary folate as a deficiency of this vitamin may cause spina bifida, a birth defect.

Thiamine

A Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome can be developed by people who are addicted to alcohol. This is a disorder that is caused by a thiamine deficiency. Thiamine is helpful in metabolizing carbohydrates, managing electrolytes and maintaining healthy nerve as well as muscle cells. Many specialists of alcohol rehabilitation centers say that Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is likely to cause severe brain damage which leads to problems with memory, vision and coordination.

Vitamin B6

This vitamin makes sure that a person's red blood cells are healthy. This is a co-factor for a lot of body enzymes and helps in keeping the nervous and immune systems function normally. Vitamin B6 can be acquired from fortified cereals, fish, meat and beans. This vitamin can be degraded by alcohol which causes vitamin B6 deficiency.

Vitamin B12

Deficiency of this vitamin is common for those who overuse alcohol. This vitamin can be acquired from seafood, meat, eggs and milk products. These natural resources can be used together with vitamin B12 supplements to resolve a vitamin B12 deficiency that is caused by a person's alcoholism.

As an alcoholic doesn't eat enough amounts of healthy foods every day, his body will lack the necessary vitamins that it demands to function effectively. It is important to take vitamin B-complex supplements when he is in the phase of recovery to maintain a good health.

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