| It's no secret that most abusers of alcohol trying to | | | | energy. Once the process is complete, we need more |
| stop drinking don't succeed. They sometimes go | | | | food and we start getting hungry - which is why |
| through one treatment program after another, including | | | | breakfast, lunch and dinner are generally spaced four |
| alcohol detox, and still can't control the craving for | | | | or five hours apart. |
| alcohol. Why is that? | | | | However, if the carbohydrates are simple, they're |
| Although addiction is a complex subject and there is | | | | normally processed within an hour or two - we get a |
| really no single, magical answer to that question, one of | | | | huge spike in energy shortly after we eat, but in an |
| the primary factors may be dietary - especially sugar. | | | | hour or two we're looking for a pick-me-up. |
| In fact, the success of a drug or alcohol detox | | | | How does this relate to alcohol? |
| program depends in part on the body restoring | | | | Some alcohol contains sugar and creates the same |
| nutritional balance. | | | | effect as any other sugar or simple carbohydrate |
| Let's have a look at that phenomenon, the science | | | | food. However, all alcohol, whether it contains sugar or |
| behind it, and how it can be useful during the drug | | | | not, converts to glycogen, a form of blood sugar. |
| detox, rehab and recovery process. | | | | Consequently, the alcohol produces the same spike in |
| The brain's energy is primarily derived from blood | | | | energy as eating sugar, and the same crash follows a |
| sugar (glucose). If the blood sugar is in a normal range, | | | | short time later. |
| which is fairly narrow, we are alert, awake, can think | | | | The remedy to that crash is good food - complex |
| clearly, and the brain is able to regulate bodily functions. | | | | carbohydrates - but the body is sending a strong |
| Blood sugar is produced primarily through the process | | | | message that it needs energy now and if the body |
| of metabolizing carbohydrates - of which there are | | | | has been relying on alcohol for that energy, it often |
| two kinds: simple and complex. Complex | | | | craves alcohol. |
| carbohydrates generally include foods like whole grains, | | | | If an alcohol detox program does not educate their |
| fruits, vegetables, beans and legumes. Simple | | | | clients on this process and the client experiences |
| carbohydrates include sugar of all kinds, many | | | | cravings after they leave the detox program, they are |
| products that contain sugar, candy, chocolate, gum, | | | | likely interpret the cravings as "needing a drink." |
| soft drinks and so on. While this is by no means an | | | | A person trying to overcome alcohol dependency or |
| exhaustive list, you get the idea. | | | | addiction needs all the help and support they can get. If |
| When we eat food containing carbohydrates, the body | | | | you or someone you care about needs help, get them |
| converts them to blood sugar. How long the | | | | into an alcohol detox program that includes education |
| conversion process depends on each person's DNA | | | | about why the body craves alcohol and what they |
| and metabolism, but, with complex carbohydrates, the | | | | can do about it. This knowledge could help prevent |
| process normally takes about four hours. During that | | | | relapse, and may allow them to focus on other |
| time, our brain and body are continually supplied with | | | | aspects of their full recovery. |