How Do You Reverse The Effects Of Alcohol On The Body?

Excessive drinking over an elongated period can result in serious damage to the brain and liver in addition to other health issues. The amount of damage is generally proportionate to the amount of time spent drinking and the consumption amounts throughout that period.

If you are seeking a change in lifestyle, the good news is that a portion of these negative effects can still be reversed. Though the journey is a difficult one, you will find that the benefits are well worth the effort.

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Steps To Reverse Effects Of Alcohol On The Body

1 – Stop drinking. According to a 2006 study by Stanford University, alcoholics who kick the bottle were able to regain mental abilities and cognitive skills. Results were generally seen following 13 months of complete abstinence and progressed over time.

2 – Nutrition is key! Make vegetables and fruits an everyday habit, choose whole grain alternatives over white flour carbohydrates and opt for white meat instead of red. Eat three meals daily alongside small snacks to keep your blood sugar at a healthy level. Avoid sugar, saturated fats and excess salt.

3 – Begin taking stem enhancers*. These are remedies that serve to grow new cells where damage is present. Some people have rebuilt up to 25% of their liver cells with the aid of stem enhancers; improving the health of the liver for years to come. *Always discuss with your physician before starting or taking any supplements, enhancers or medicines.

4 – Get physical! Routine physical activity should become the norm to help your body regain the strength lost during your drinking years. Exercise will also rid your body of toxins that have complied over time.

5 – Take milk thistle seeds. Native to parts of Africa, Europe and Asia, milk thistle is an herb commonly used to address liver issues. Though most people opt for the pill form, it can also be taken in as a tea. Be sure to take milk thistle as directed by the instructions provided on the package. Those who are currently on any prescription medication, are breastfeeding or pregnant are advised to consult with their physician before beginning a milk thistle regimen to avoid any adverse issues.

6 – Drink mineral water. Though it may sound silly, mineral water is widely considered a healthier alternative to tap water. When you drink mineral water, the minerals get deposited throughout the body, resulting in a variety of therapeutic benefits, the major one being the balance of the body overall.

Researching alcohol addiction facilities? Contact Above It All addiction Treatment Center! With a team of seasoned addiction and recovery specialists available to assess and address your individual needs, you can count on Above It All Treatment Center to have you on the fast track to recovery in no time. Call today for more information!

Read About What To Avoid During Recovery From Alcohol

Your Sober Living Guide

After years of escapism through drug and alcohol abuse, the recovery process must be met with a fair amount of optimism. Many adhere to a belief that the root of their issues lies with the addiction: eliminate the addiction = enjoy health and happiness. However, many who have embarked on this journey prior can tell you that health and happiness are not necessarily guaranteed by rehabilitation alone. As with anything worth having, these desires take a fair amount of persistence, thought and planning, to enjoy.

Steps to Sober Living

1 – Discover the stresses, problems and hurts that initially triggered the addiction. Divorce, business failures, family illness, and low self-esteem are not issues that will disappear simply because you have stopped using. Learning to understand and recognize these issues will allow you to place a focus on working through them rather than drowning them in drugs and alcohol.

2 – Gain an appreciation for your sobriety and the strength it took you to get where you are today. Rehabilitation is something that many people lack the courage to attempt, let alone make it through. Take pride in your achievement and use that as a base to maintain your sobriety long-term.

3 – Accept and understand that, while you may have made your share of mistakes, you deserve to enjoy the good in life just as much as the next person. Beating yourself up over past indescrepencies will do little to encourage your well being. Immerse yourself in the full spectrum of emotion that comes with sobriety – the good, the bad and the ugly.

4 – Steer clear of negative situations and people from your addictive past and instead spend time growing new relationships and memories with those who support you. Seek out inspiration, hope and positivity in these areas while emphasizing your own self-worth.

5 – Determine a purpose – an activity that promotes determination and joy. This can be something small and personal like parenting, or larger than yourself like volunteer work. The activity itself does not matter, so long as it provides you with goals, ambition, happiness and life! If it’s worth fighting for, you’re onto something good.

6 – Invest in your spiritual being to find solace within yourself. Some drive down Eastern inspired roads towards inner peace; others seek out a true relationship with God. The real goal is to construct an environment within your life where you can accept yourself for being you… every last inch and flaw.

Find more sober recovery tips and tricks at AboveItAllTreatment.com!

Important Diet Recommendations For The Recovering Alcoholic

Important-Diet-Recommendations-For-The-Recovering-AlcoholicAlcoholism is the only known disease to affect each and every system and cell within the body. From the cardiovascular and digestive systems to a variety of organs including the liver and brain, no area is left untouched. Because alcohol does not expel toxins while robbing cells of nutrition, alcoholics are often malnourished. Proper diet is essential to the recovery process by way of repairing the damage done to the body through excess abuse. When combined with routine exercise, healthy eating habits can do wonders to ensure a safe, comfortable and happy transition into sobriety.

Conditions

  • Choose foods high in healthy carbohydrates and proteins to help reduce those pesky cravings.
  • Include daily multivitamin supplements that include folic acid and B-vitamins, while avoiding food and beverage items that include sugar and caffeine during the initial recovery period.
  • Seek out foods that contain tyrosine, tryptophan and amino acids. These items will work to aid a positive emotional state and promote alertness. Good examples include tofu, seafood, poultry, meat, milk, bananas, sunflower seeds and turkey.

Pyramid

Remember the old food pyramid from grade school? It still applies!

Base your meal choices around these six pyramid groups for adequate nutrition:

1 – Fruits – Apples, grapes, berries, pears, melons, oranges, grapefruit and avocados.

2 – Vegetables – Broccoli, bell peppers, squash, tomatoes, asparagus, carrots, beans, spinach, lettuce.

3 – Oils and fats – Corn, safflower, canola and olive oil. Olives, peanuts and almonds are also wonderful options. Opt for a margarine or mayonnaise without trans fat.

4 – Healthy whole grains – Bulgur, tortillas, brown rice, cereals, whole grain breads and oatmeal.

5 – Meat, poultry and fish – Add fish such as albacore tuna, mackerel, herring and salmon to your diet whenever possible. Eat chicken and turkey without the skin.

6 – Dairy products – Switch to low fat or skim milk, nonfat cottage cheese, and fat free yogurt. Swap your cheddar and Swiss cheeses for mozzarella.

Snacks

When the cravings hit, it’s best to be prepared. Stock up on air popped popcorn without the butter, pretzels, fresh fruit and low-fat yogurt. Chop up a few raw vegetables and dip them in a low-fat dressing or salsa. The better you eat, the better you’ll feel. When it comes to recovery, you need all the help you can get!

Learn More

If you’re struggling with an addiction to drugs or alcohol, Above it All is the place to call! Pick up the phone today and let our team of addiction and recovery specialists help you back on track towards the healthy, happy and productive lifestyle you’ve been missing.

Preventing Relapse For Alcoholics In Early Recovery Requires Extra Vigilance

If simply making a decision to stop drinking was enough to treat alcoholism, treatment centers and 12 step programs would not exist. By the time a client reaches the point where he or she gets help, the decision about whether to drink has been taken away. The addiction is fully and completely in control.

Getting into treatment helps an alcoholic get sober, but the work of staying that way happens one day at a time. Recovery is not a place that a client ever gets to; rather, it is a state of being. There is no such thing as drinking “in moderation” for a recovering alcoholic, which means that the only acceptable level of alcohol consumption is zero.

 

Alcohol Treatment Programs Address Triggers

One of the features of Above It All long term treatment for alcoholism is the help and support to deal with triggers that may set off cravings to start drinking. These will be different for everyone, but may include:

  • Television commercials, ads or billboards featuring alcohol
  • Films or television programs depicting alcohol use
  • Being around people who are consuming alcohol
  • Driving or walking by a liquor store or bar
  • Listening to music with lyrics mentioning drinking (country music seems to feature this type of theme more often than other types)
  • Watching or reading news stories discussing health benefits of drinking wine in moderation

Recognizing these triggers and developing strategies to deal with them is part of the treatment program. For a person who is new to sobriety, the triggers can be particularly strong. A person in treatment needs to understand that he or she will experience cravings to pick up a drink and that something as simple as seeing a favorite glass, catching a whiff of alcohol, or thinking about a cold beer on a hot day may be enough to start an episode. Clients will leave the treatment program with a toolbox of strategies that they can use to head off a relapse before it starts.

One of the advantages of staying at an inpatient treatment center is being able to focus on getting well. Rather than immediately returning to “regular” life once the treatment is completed, sober living programs with Above it All give clients a time when they can live in a home-like setting. They can take the time they need to adjust to life in recovery, which is very often essential to them establishing successful long-term sobriety.

Your Rehab Survival Guide

Alcohol, drugs, and countless other addictions can pose extreme strain on the professional and personal life of an individual. Once the choice has been made to seek out recovery options, surviving the rehabilitation process becomes a priority worthy of the individual’s unabashed attention. For many rehab patients, this journey is one not one easily traveled. In the following entry, we will offer up a few tips to help you through the initial rehab process to ensure a successful and long-lasting recovery.

1 – Accountability is key. The first step to take in your recovery journey is the acknowledgement that you, and only you, are responsible for your success. If you are not completely invested in your own recovery, the help of others will do little to aid in your quest. Communicate your goals with close friends and relatives to gain support, and request help whenever needed. Though your recovery is dependant on you, a solid support system is vital on the road to success.

2 – Take a deep breath and throw yourself head-first into your Above It All treatment program. Participate in group activities and discussions, educate yourself on your addiction type, and take medications as advised by your addiction counselors. Create a structure and routine for your time to keep yourself accountable.

3 – Come to the understanding that you are addicted, out of control, and in need of help. Locate other people, be them staff or other patients within the rehabilitation program, to relate to. The more you are able to communicate and involve yourself with others, faster your recovery will take place.

4 – Learn how to attend to your feelings in a productive manner. With a focused and quiet mind, you can and will survive this process. Write our your future goals, and make lists that will help you determine how to reach them. By incorporating your recovery into your goal list, you will be able to prioritize your actions, while keeping your eye on the prize.

5 – Find an activity that makes you happy. From exercise and sports to music and arts, throwing yourself into something outside your own head will serve to keep you motivated, determined, and pushing forward. Who knows… you might even find a new career path! Explore your options, and pursue new avenues whenever able.

6 – Your rehabilitation staff is there for a reason. Use them when you are having doubts, concerns, or need to address a difficult question. These professionals, are highly trained in the areas of addiction and addiction recovery, and will be able to help point you in the right direction.

7 – Keep a journal. Writing in a daily journal will provide you with an outlet for your thoughts, while giving you a reference to keep throughout your journey. Jot down your feelings, poems, pictures, whatever you like! In time, you will wonder what you ever did without it.

When it comes to inpatient treatment programs in Southern CA, Above It All is a cut above the rest. Offering a comprehensive, innovative, and effective addiction treatment platform, Above It All has you covered for the personalized, high-quality care and attention you need to enjoy the quality of life you deserve. Call us today!

Tips for Sober Living in CA For Valentine’s Day!

California alcohol rehabilitation centers know that Valentine’s Day can be a hard time to not indulge in  wine with your honey,  and that it can be lonely  for those without a special someone. So here are some ideas that can help in finding (and planning!) a sober holiday that is also fun.

For Couples:

Looking for something fun to do with your special someone?  Why not take the day off and plan a romantic picnic in the park, or a boat ride for 2?  Planning time in the sunshine is a beautiful way to have fun and be less conventional about your love.  Take an Active role in your life together and get out to do something. If you can’t afford the time off, or are not in the mood for outdoor time, spend some time indoors cuddling and getting to know each other better.

For Singles:

It’s not a bad thing to be single, make Valentine’s day a day to get to know yourself better, to treat yourself kindly. Make it a spa day, a get out and enjoy yourself because you are you day, or even a lazy day. Be kind to yourself. Or if you want more human contact, plan an outing with your single friends to enjoy yourselves and love being who you all are as independent people who love each other in the bonds of friendship. Maybe spend some time with family; they are a great support for addicts. Valentine’s Day is for all types of love, not just romantic.

If these suggestions aren’t quite your cup of tea, just remember that there is love for you in this world so don’t tempt yourself with situations that aren’t healthy for you. As many addiction counselors will say there are 3 important things to improve mood and your way of life: sunshine, exercise, and nature. So get out there and treat yourself right on Valentine’s Day.