Addiction and Nutrition*
“Without the recovered body, neither the mind nor the spirit can reach its full potential. Recovery programs that do not recognize this fact and thus do not include the physiological restoration in their approach, are about as effective as firemen who stand in front of a burning building and wish that it wouldn’t burn down.” wrote Joseph Beasley, MD and Susan Knightly, in Food for Recovery.
The Craving Phenomenon
In a normally functioning body, vitamins, minerals and essential amino acids (which can only be derived from food) are used by the brain to synthesize neurotransmitters. The brain can build nonessential amino acids when it needs them. The nutritional value of one’s food directly affects one’s mental health. In the complex process of sending messages in the brain, three variables are involved: the neurotransmitters, the synapses and the receptor sites. In response to the various internal and external messages and stimuli, the brain releases different neurotransmitters to effect different reactions.
The hypothalamic region of the brain is the area that tells the body to eat. It receives two messages from the alcoholic body. One message is from the digestive tract. Due to damage from ethanol’s affect on its lining, the stomach says not to eat. The other message is from the brain. Because of the acetaldehyde-caused chemical imbalance, the brain calls for more alcohol. The imbalance occurs when the acetaldehyde combines with different neurotransmitters to create a chemical called a TIQ. These TIQs are the agents that cause the craving for alcohol. The specific neurotransmitter action that is interfered with by the TIQ determines the substance craved.
The Sugar – Coffee Connection
Alcohol is the only drug that is technically a food. It is the ultimate refined carbohydrate. The body takes this refined carbohydrate and turns it into a simple sugar. When simple sugars are digested the blood sugar level goes through the roof causing an energy rush and the pancreas scrambles to stabilize the blood sugar balance by injecting insulin into the system. Since the sugar rush is short lived, the pancreas ends up pumping too much insulin into the system, causing a relatively low blood sugar level. The foundation of the blood sugar balance is derived from the body’s digestion of complex carbohydrates and protein. Without this foundation, the body is susceptible to extreme swings in the blood sugar level.
Most recovering and active alcoholics suffer from alcoholic hypoglycemia, due to an abnormality of carbohydrate metabolism. Many were diagnosed as hypoglycemic before they began drinking. Glucose, or blood sugar derived from carbohydrates, is the food that the brain uses to operate. Hypoglycemia is a lack of glucose that can manifest as headaches, confusion, weakness, depression, anxiety and sometimes even convulsions and coma. Essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiencies intensify these symptoms. Hypoglycemia is behind the phenomenon of recovering alcoholics ingesting large amounts of coffee, sugar and simple carbohydrates. These foods cause a rapid boost in blood sugar. Coffee causes an additional effect of boosting adrenal output. This puts a double whammy on the hypoglycemic condition, because these quick fixes only heighten and deepen the respective ups and downs of the blood sugar roller coaster ride. The nutritional component of recovery is essential to stabilizing both the blood sugar and neurotransmitter balance.
Sunrider International® and Nutritional Recovery
Sunrider’s ®philosophy is feed the body whole food nutrition and let the body’s own intelligence, or the “wisdom of the body” direct where the nutrition goes and how it is absorbed. John Finnegan in his book, Recovery from Addiction, says “Herbal formulas made with special extraction and concentration methods are among the most powerful substances known to regenerate and heal weak, deficient systems.” The classical Chinese, and some holistic healers, view the body as separate systems, such as the digestive system. If a particular system is malnourished, then the weakest organ in the system will manifest the resulting imbalance as an illness.”
In Recovery from Addiction, John Finnegan describes NuPlus® as “among the most powerful herbal rebuilding formulas known. It has a strong regenerating effect on the adrenals, reproductive glands, liver, pancreas, kidneys, and nervous system. It helps build lean muscle tissue, improves fat metabolism and greatly stamina and energy…People with severe fatigue or blood sugar problems and those recovering from addictions will find that it greatly stabilizes the metabolism and increases energy when used several times a day.”
The second Sunrider® formula recommended feeds the nervous system. ESE® is the key formula for strengthening the nervous system function, which is compromised by substance addiction. The principle behind the ESE® formula, that the Chinese evolved long ago, is that by increasing concentration, one is not distracted by the “noise” in one’s environment. The Chinese found that the selection of herbs found in ESE ®helped with concentration and mental clarity.
Once the nutritional foundation is set, the Sunrider® Quinary® formula helps to balance the systems of the body. The term Quinary® is derived from the Latin word for “five”. The herbs in this formula are for rebuilding, feeding and balancing the five major systems. These are the immune, circulatory, endocrine, digestive and respiratory systems.
After the cycle of nourishing and balancing comes the cycle of cleansing. The Sunrider® formulas for feeding the cleansing systems are Calli® and Fortune Delight® beverage. The Calli® is a great cleanser for the brain and is best made one bag to one quart of hot water. Neither the Calli ®nor Fortune Delight® should be prepared in a microwave. Both of these teas are alkaline balanced and neither of them contains black tea. John Finnegan, in Recovery from Addiction, says Calli® “improves liver function, aids fat metabolism, increases energy and improves nervous system function.” Fortune Delight® tea is an excellent formula for nourishing and strengthening all the organs and processes of digestion, assimilation and elimination. It aids in fat and cholesterol metabolism, cleans the digestive tract and helps get rid of harmful Candida overgrowths.
The need for nutrition is vitally evident in the world of the recovering alcoholic. What is not commonly addressed is the nutritional needs for people who have the genetic predisposition for alcoholism, even if there hasn’t been an alcoholic in the family for several generations. The sense of joy that we have encountered with people who have regularly added Sunrider ®formulas to their diets is often due to their relief from the chronic and vague discomforts with which people have learned to live. Just as a baby is first empowered when it wields its feeding spoon with good aim, our aim can be to take better control of our lives by eating better.
* This article is written from excerpts found in The Solar Flair, (1997) “Nutrition – The Key to Freeing Generations from Alcoholism” published by Lightwave Communications, Inc. What is shared here is for informational purposes only and separate from Sunrider International®. It is not intended as medical advice. As with any medical problem, one should consult medical physician.
References
Kehoe, D., Kehoe, P., & Smith, S. (1997) The Solar Flair, “Nutrition – The Key to Freeing Generations from Alcoholism”. Paradise Valley, MT: Lightwave Communications, Inc.
Finnegan, J. & Gray, D. (1990) Recovery from Addiction. Berkeley, CA: Celestial Arts.
Beasley, J., MD. & Knightly, S. (1994) Food for Recovery. The Complete Nutritional Companion for Overcoming Alcoholism, Drug Addiction, and Eating Disorders. New York, NY: Three Rivers Press.