Alcohol detox

Congratulations if you are considering an alcohol detox, as that is the first step towards a much healthier you. However please be aware that starting an alcohol detox can be a really arduous journey.

If you drink heavily, then always consult a trained medical Doctor and let them know how much you actually drink as when you start to detox, severe complications can arise. These include seizures and hallucinations that can lead into "Delirium tremens" which is a medical emergency, and can result in death.

If you are more of a social drinker and less chemically dependent on alcohol, then obviously the withdrawal symptoms might be as "mild" as getting the shakes, sweats, nausea, diarrhea, headache, anxiety, a rapid heart beat, and increased blood pressure. Although these symptoms are uncomfortable and irritating, they are not necessarily dangerous. The difficulty for you is that they are often accompanied by the "craving" for more alcohol, making the decision to continue abstinence much more difficult to make.

If you are more of a social drinker you may be able to avoid many of the mild withdrawal symptoms by gradually reducing the amount you drink over time. For example, you could try drinking lots of water in between each glass of alcohol. Or you could limit the amount you drink to one unit a day, or limit the number of days you drink altogether. This approach can be difficult for many people however as once you have the taste of one drink you will want another and therefore it is almost easier to have no drinks than one alcoholic drink.

If you want to do an alcohol detox at home, and you are not a heavy drinker, then you should look to incorporate the following recommendations:

1. Diet - Many detox diets start with a couple of days of fasting with water only, followed by a gradual increase of foods like fruits and vegetables. However unless you have strong will power, many of these detox diets are so restrictive and make you feel totally weak and miserable that you can't maintain them for long. So for you the best way to detox from alcohol might be to not go on a restrictive fasting diet but rather ensure you eat a balanced proper diet, eat more fruits and vegetables and reduce or cut out your intake of sugars and caffeine. Studies have shown that anything containing sugar or coffee will crease alcohol cravings. That includes therefore fast food, sodas, desserts and caffeinated drinks. You should ensure you drink plenty of water and electrolytes throughout the day to help flush your body of toxins

2. Sleep - Sleep gives the body and mind a chance to rest and heal after each day so that you can be fresh and able to face the next day. However some people may find they sleep terribly when they first stop drinking alcohol. It may be that sleep issues are why some people started to drink alcohol in the first place. Therefore during your alcohol detox, make sure you prioritise getting enough time to rest, and try taking relaxing baths and herbal teas at night.

3. Exercise - An exercise program will help you sweat out toxins from your body and also create more of those feel good endorphins to make you feel better about yourself. Any exercise is good but many recovering alcoholics have found Bikram Yoga to be extremely beneficial. Not only does Bikram Yoga exercise every muscle, joint and organ in your body but it is done in a room heated to 105 degrees meaning that you sweat out all the toxins from alcohol abuse extra fast. Be absolutely sure to arrive at a Bikram Yoga class well hydrated however, ie. not suffering from a hangover.

4. Take supplements - Alcohol depletes a wide range of nutrients in the body, so it is important to ensure that your new eating plan supplies enough. The following herbs and nutritional supplements are recommended for alcohol withdrawal: * Milk Thistle * Kudzu * Beta-carotene * Magnesium * Glutamine * Vitamins (especially vitamin B), including: A, B3, B6, C, D, E. * Primrose Oil

5. Find a partner who can support you during your alcohol detox. You need someone who can hold you accountable, and help you through the withdrawal symptoms. An alcohol detox is not an easy path but the feeling at the end is definitely worth it.

Learn more about Alcohol Detox at www.alcoholismcures.com where you can read real people reviews on diferent alcoholism detox solutions.