– Give your liver a much needed break – the master detoxification organ
– Support gut health – mood boosting, hormone balancing, improving immune function
Avoiding that glass of wine while you prepare dinner or consuming a few beers or cocktails at the end of a long week can be hard but there are some strategies that can really help.
1. Kombucha – is a fermented tea drink. It’s available at most health food stores and in some grocery stores now too… It comes in a variety of flavours, just make sure you buy good quality and DO NOT drink tons of it. (3 or 4 ounces a day will do – it does have a very small amount of alcohol in it)
2. My favourite ‘go to’ when I’m cleansing is an ACV Cocktail. Not only does it help to replace an alcoholic beverage, but apple cider vinegar is super healthy for you – click HERE to read my blog about the benefits.
ACV Cocktail Recipe:
- 1 tablespoon (more or a little less if you’re new to this) naturally fermented apple cider vinegar
- 6 ounces of filtered water, or (for a more ‘beer like’ drink) bubbly water
- Serve in a pretty glass with ice if you like…
3. Eat To Balance Blood Sugar & Avoid Cravings
Consume good quality fats, proteins and complex carbohydrates every time you eat, this helps to give your body a slower release of sugars and energy – so you avoid blood sugar spikes. A blood sugar spike will be followed by a blood sugar crash – which can result in fatigue, brain fog, irritability and/or CRAVINGS!
4. Research has suggested that alcoholic cravings are impacted by a deficiency in B vitamins (specifically thiamin) and that supplements may lessen the desire to drink. I recommend taking a good quality B-complex vitamin supplement.
5. Adding cinnamon to your smoothies, oatmeal, baking, whatever you like (make sure it’s good quality organic) helps to balance blood sugar thereby curb cravings.
6. Get a buddy – having a friend along for the ride really helps.
- Go to a movie
- A walk
- A workout
- Make a healthy meal together (meals that avoid simple carbs, such as pasta and bread and focus on healthy greens, well-sourced proteins, and good fats don’t ‘scream’ for an alcoholic accompaniment).
Connecting with friends and loved ones without alcohol consumption can be a mutually nurturing and enlightening experience.
Good luck with your Dry January! – remember, making small changes in your diet and lifestyle can have a profound impact on your overall health and wellbeing.
REFERENCES:
https://www.kent.ac.uk/chss/docs/Nutrition-and-addiction.pdf
https://www.healthline.com/health-news/how-nutritional-therapy-is-helping-people-overcome-alcohol-addiction#1
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4583280/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26695747