Do you ever wonder whether you’ve become an alcoholic? Perhaps you’ve moved from an occasional drink for social pleasure to an everyday indulgence, or from an occasional glass of wine with a good meal to a half bottle that gives you more solace and comfort than it should.
Whether you’ve crossed the line from alcohol use to alcohol abuse is something for you to work out, perhaps with the help of a doctor or therapist.
Whether you’ve become addicted or not, if you are a regular user, you should be aware that alcohol not only stresses your liver, it also depletes your body of B vitamins. The body needs B vitamins to perform literally hundreds of biochemical reactions. B vitamins do everything from helping your body digest fats, carbohydrates, and proteins to helping your red blood cells deliver oxygen to every bone, muscle, and organ in your body; from helping to cleanse your liver to protecting you from heart attack and cancer.
If your body becomes depleted of B vitamins, you’re more susceptible to stress and depression and more likely to experience an energy drain.
If you use alcohol on a regular basis, you should consider taking a B-complex supplement. Simply follow the directions on the package. And whether you’ve strayed into alcohol abuse or not, you can benefit from the dietary strategies and nutrients detailed in the Addictions chapter.
If you’re not sure whether you’ve crossed the line from alcohol use to alcohol abuse, discuss your situation with your doctor or a therapist. Also, there is one category of nutrients that is especially helpful in offering your body a measure of protection.
B vitamins |
B-complex supplement, follow the directions on the package |