Nutrition and Addiction (Alcohol, Tobacco, Drugs)

We all know people who are caught up in addictions.  Since there are so many types of addiction, we

will focus on the three most common -- alcohol, tobacco and drugs.  The purpose of this blog is to offer practical nutritional support for those who are trying to overcome them.

Three Important Steps

Admit -- We have to admit to ourselves first of all that we have an addiction.   We must identify it in our minds as something we strongly desire -- but something that is also hurting us, and keeping us from things that we want even more.  Addictions often stand between us and such important things as our relationship with God, family, friends; our health and our career.

Desire -- There has to be a strong desire down inside to make a change.  Without a desire to change, we can never be successful.  Almost everyone who is addicted begins to ask himself somewhere down the road, "Why am I doing this?  What is it doing to me?  Why don't I do something about it?"  If we are attempting to quit only because it is someone else's desire to overcome establishes the needed climate for victory.

Begin -- If we have reached the point where we really want to make a change, then comes the actual battle.  Have we not all watched people struggle with addiction -- wanting desperately to leave it behind -- yet somehow sucked back into its vortex again and again?  Is there a way out?  The answer is "Yes"!

Addictions can be related to poor nutrition

Often, addictions develop as a result of cravings within the body which we attempt to satisfy with drugs instead of nutrition.  To stop these cravings we must learn to know the needs of the body nutritionally, and provide them abundantly in place of the addictive substance.  To try to foce the body into compliance with a decision of the mind to get off alcohol, drugs, or tobacco without meeting the nutritional needs of the body is to court failure.

Drugs and alcohol programs across our land perform a very important service but their success rate is greatly hindered because they do not show the addict how to meet his or her needs through improved nutrition.  While support groups provide a wonderful environment of motivation and positive thinking to those escaping addiction, there is more to recovery than just psychological needs.  Since addiction affects both the mind and body, they must have help in both areas.  This blog is focused especially on the physical side, showing that the body needs nutritionally to help overcome addiction. 

Alcohol Addiction

There is a physical craving that contributes to alcoholism.  Most alcoholics are hypoglycemic.  They have poor adrenal function which results in mood swings that are caused by low blood sugar levels.  Alcohol and sweets give a fast rise in blood sugar which relieves the feeling of tension or depression.  But often this is followed by reactionary low blood sugar which brings on depression and other highly undesirable feelings.

Alcoholics Anonymous gives wonderful psychological and group support, but in most cases they do not help the underlying physical cause of the addiction with nutritional advice that can help reduce the graving for alcohol.  The addict's body is calling for something to meet its needs, but he or she is not given the knowledge needed to overcome the problem.  In addition to psychological support, the addict needs to learn what is needed nutritionally, and what is to be avoided.

NeoLife products are particularly adept at meeting the alcoholic's nutritional needs.  Super Ease or NouriShake protein for breakfast will help start the day with blood sugar levels where they should be.  This lays the foundation for sobriety by stopping the craving for alcohol to raise blood sugar levels.  Some protein (milk, meat or eggs) with each meal greatly helps to stabilize blood sugar levels.  If you crave alcohol, eat three meals per day on time.  Meal skippers leave themselves wide open for alcoholic cravings because of self imposed low blood sugar levels.

Stress 30 (prepackaged supplements for a day), also helps curb the desire for alcohol by abundantly supplying the nutrients needed by the adrenal glands to do their job.  The adrenals keep blood sugar levels under control and reduce the need for something like alcohol to overcome depression or tension.  This means a reduced desire for alcohol, making it much easier to carry through with sobriety.  The B-Complex in Stress 30 packs provides a rich supply of Vitamin B3 which is so important to the alcohol-dependent person.  A steady supply of B3 takes away the craving for alcohol.  Once the body's needs are met, it makes it possible for the addict to follow through with the good intentions of the mind.  To follow through with their AA group and sponsor.

Tobacco Addiction

During the twentieth century we have seen this rise of the tobacco empire, and now we see signs of its collapse.  "No Smoking" signs have sprouted up everywhere, and millions are attempting to dump the habit that will some day dump them.

As with alcohol, tobacco addiction is not easily abandoned.  Most people have a very difficult time with it.  Why is this?  What is there about tobacco that binds a person's will when he or she desires to quit?

Have you ever noticed that most people who decide to quit smoking go back to it as soon as a crisis of some kind arises?  Tehy may be successful in their battle for days or weeks, but when something upsetting happens, they go right back to their cigarettes.

According to Dr Michael Lasser, MD, one of the nation's foremost psychiatrists, there is a mineral called lithium that is abundant in tobacco.  Dr Lesser adds, "Possibly it is tobacco's lithium content which accounts partially for the soothing effect of smoking."  (Nutrition & Vitamin Therapy, p. 138, By Dr Michael Lesser, MD, Bantam Books Inc 1981)

This is very interesting because lithium is the mood stabilizer used by psychiatrists for the treatment of the severe mood swings of the manic-depressive.  Lithium has the effect of calming the emotionally distressed.  Since it is not found in ordinary foods, it's only common source is tobacco.  Now combine this with the type of problem that tobacco addicts face when they try to quit.  The first crisis sends them right back to the cigarette for comfort.  have you ever heard, "It calms my nerves?"  Could it be the lithium in tobacco that the body is craving?

How about supplying lithium to the person who wants to quit smoking.  Remember, lithium is a mineral, not a drug.  But since it can be toxic in large amounts, it is available only by doctor's prescription.  Taking small amounts of lithium while withdrawing from tobacco is safe, and may supply the calming effect of tobacco while allowing the addict to escape from the chains of the habit.  Gradual reduction of lithium will let him or her down easy, and a small amount can be kept on hand for a future crisis instead of returning to the cigarette.

In such cases, lithium becomes nutritional, just like iron, calcium or any other mineral.  If the person's body is craving this mineral, no other nutrient or drug will bring relief.  Perhaps tobacco addiction can be conquered if we will just use common sense and supply the missing lithium.

Stress 30 is also very helpful at a time like this.  The rich supply of B Vitamins helps calm the nerves.  A Stress 30 pack each day during withdrawal helps ease the way toward success.  Then after victory is achieved, continuing Stress 30 each day will help keep down the inner climate that makes one want to reach for another cigarette. 

Drug Addiction

How can nutrition help with drug abuse?  All that we have said about recognition of the problem and desire to quit apply to the drug addict as well as to the alcoholic and smoker.  But beyond desire comes the reality of getting the job done.  Rehabilitation centers are sprouting up everywhere to help the millions whose lives are devastated by drugs.  They are helpful to a certain extent, but even after thousands of dollars are spent for treatment, the results are very disappointing.  Like the alcoholic therapy programs, most of them do not address nutritional needs of the addict.

Could nutrition help this kind of problem?  While drug addiction is not directly related to a mineral deficiency such as lithium in tobacco, proper nutrition can make withdrawal much easier.  AS with tobacco and alcohol, we need to determine whether drugs are a substitute for the nutrition the body really needs.  If nutrition can supply it, the body will quit craving it and the addict will be satisfied with the real thing. 

Many drug addicts try drugs for the same reason alcoholics and smokers experiment with alcohol and tobacco.  They feel "down" and are desperately looking for a way to get "up".  The corresponding low which is lower than before they got aboard this roller-coaster.  Then, to continue to achieve the desired highs, more and more of the drug must be consumed, which in many cases produces unwanted side affects such as brain damage.  Nutrition, on the other hand, can supply what the body needs to feel "up" without the terrible side effects.

Super Ease or NouriShake protein for breakfast and a Stress 30 pack each day are a good place to begin.  The special time-released action of NeoLife's protein helps control blood sugar levels, preventing that "down" feeling which the addict tries to relieve with drugs.  Stress 30 adds a rich supply of all the B Vitamins, plus the lipids and sterols which help the adrenal glands function up to par.  Together, these prevent the tired "down" feeling that leads to "upper" addictions.

What to do

If you have an addiction -- but are ready to stop your world and get off, try these ideas:

• Find a support group where you can get the psychological backing you need
• Use abundant nutritional products to meet your physical needs so that your body will not crave your addiction
• If you are a smoker, ask your physician for a small amount of lithium as an emotional stabilizer to replace the lithium contained in the tobacco
• Don't be  ameal skipper.  Eat three balanced meals each day at the right tie, to stabilize blood sugar levels.
• Avoid sweets such as candy, cake, etc.  These tend to upset blood sugar levels and lead to a craving for drugs.
• Use Stress 30 packs (nutritional supplements pre-packaged) to supply the total range of supplements that will help satisfy the body's cravings.  You need all the nutritional support you can get during this time of stress.
• Eat some protein foods at each meal (such as meat, milk, eggs, Super Ease or NouriShake protein drink).  These tend to stabilize blood sugar levels and reduce the craving for drugs.
• Eat whole grain bread and cereals, fresh vegetables and fresh fruits and nuts to satisfy the nutritional needs of the body with wholesome food.  Avoid devitalized white flour foods.  This is where I'd like to recommend Jovial, which is Einkorn wheat, God's original non-modified, non-GMO wheat.  They have flour, pasta's including rice pastas.  It tastes great, and even people with Silica are most often able to eat Einkorn wheat without any problems.  https://jovialfoods.com/ 

A good diet and food supplements won't put the desire in your heart to stop an addiction.  But if the desire is there, NeoLife stands ready with the finest nutritional support to make it easier for you to achieve your goals.
http://neolife.com/en-us/home/
Sponsor #32-260985

As a post note: Black Pepper essential oil has been known to take away the craving of tobacco.  Simply apply to your hands a drop, rub together, and breath deeply.  There is a great difference in quality of essential oils on the market of about 300 brands today.  Ameo, is a clinical standard, following the established perimeters of world research clinical studies.  They test more, prove it and release their tests.  They also show cell active and cell permeable, on live human blood cells.  Most essential oils on the market are what Dr Penoel MD calls "dead oils" because they actually do not penetrate the cell membrane to do any benefit.
http://ClinicalGradeEssentialOils.myameo.com