Amino Acids And Alcohol Cravings: Understanding The Link
Alcohol addiction is a disorder that affects an individual's health especially his brain. Alcoholics are likely to disregard the unwanted effects of their habit because they continue to crave for the substance and ingest it. These cravings are associated with the performance of the brain's neurotransmitters that are created by amino acids.
A person's behavior and moods are controlled by the brain through the complex reactions of its neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters are built in the body through the proteins that the individual gets from his foods. These proteins are made of amino acids. According to experts in alcohol rehabs, the interactions of the brain's neurotransmitters are interupted by alcohol which suppresses a few of them while over stimulates the others. These modifications in these neurotransmitters can become irreversible when an individual ingests alcohol excessively and over a prolonged period of time. This may lead to brain damage.
Some professionals in alcohol treatment centers say that the brain of an alcoholic may have neurotransmitter deficiencies. But when the individual ingests amino acids like phenylanine, tyrosine and glutamine everyday, their cravings for alcohol may be minimized. An alcoholic can also take in gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) supplements to minimize withdrawal symptoms that may be endured once the individual quits ingesting alcohol. The supplements are also useful in rebalancing the GABA levels in his brain.
GABA levels can increase when an alcoholic ingests 750 mg capsules of GABA a couple of times every day. These supplements can be bought over the counter, in local drug stores or on the web. However, it is essential to take note that it is not highly recommended to take GABA supplements while the individual is still drinking as this may naturally increase the GABA levels in the brain. Also, an alcoholic should quit taking the supplements when they experience a relapse and start to drink alcohol again. For an alcoholic, the use of these supplements is not enough for him to recover. It is best to seek for professional help for alcohol dependency if the person wants to effectively learn how to control his condition. There are available alcohol rehab facilities to seek help from. These facilities have medical experts who will supervise the condition of an alcoholic and give him medications that will help relieve withdrawal symptoms.
Support groups and cognitive behavioral therapy have been proven efficient therapeutic treatments. However, since it is likely for alcohol addiction to be related to vitamin and mineral deficiencies and amino acid abnormalities, an alcoholic should take amino acid supplements and maintain a healthy diet to reduce the alcohol cravings.
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