5 Science-Backed Strategies to Overcome Alcohol Cravings

Before starting any new supplement, you should first discuss doing so with your doctor. This is because some supplements need to be closely monitored, including minerals like magnesium, which can build up in your body if you take too much. Further, some supplements may have drug interactions with your existing medications or can worsen other current medical conditions. One animal study showed that ashwagandha helps control mood changes, anxiety and seizures from alcohol withdrawal, but this effect has not yet been studied in humans. Kudzu might be helpful for those who struggle with alcohol because some data show that it can help reduce alcohol intake, even in those who drink heavily.

• Her books, including “13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do,” have been translated into more than 40 languages.
• One study suggests that just a single dose of kudzu is effective for curbing alcohol consumption.
• To increase your magnesium intake, incorporate foods such as leafy green vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and legumes into your diet.
• Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese practice that involves the insertion of thin needles into specific points on the body.
• These supportive tools can help us overcome alcohol cravings and stay on the journey to recovery.

Getting Started With Drinking Less

We also share other medications that are under investigation for AUD, as well as non-drug alternatives for managing cravings when quitting drinking. For those of us who have grown comfortable in our recoveries, the unexpected arrival of alcohol cravings can be really disorienting. Our recoveries are strong, we have trusted communities and support networks around us and we’ve transitioned into an easier stage in recovery where we don’t grip so tightly onto sobriety.

Kudzu Extract

Combining medication with therapy and other interventions can prove even more helpful than medication alone. Just as different things can trigger alcohol cravings from person to person, different strategies can help you manage them. External triggers refer to the environmental cues you link to alcohol, including places, times, people, and situations. How can you best communicate your struggle with cravings to your loved ones?

Feeling Exhausted After Quitting Alcohol? Here’s Why and What You Can Do

This substance has been shown to cause deficiencies in essential nutrients, including vitamins and minerals that are needed to support detoxification and other biochemical processes. If you have been drinking to excess, be sure to herbs to curb alcohol cravings educate yourself about how exactly alcohol causes nutrient deficiencies. Studies have also found that magnesium deficiency is very common in people dealing with alcohol addiction and withdrawal. And supplementing with magnesium diminishes withdrawal complications, reduces the severity of their withdrawal symptoms, and lowers their need for anti-anxiety medication (86, 87). If you’re in recovery from alcohol use disorder, adding this supplement into your diet can help with anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and many other issues that might trigger alcohol cravings. DL-phenylalanine can also be a useful supplement for alcohol withdrawal.

Mind-Body Techniques

Animal studies suggest that CBD can reduce stress-related alcohol consumption, withdrawal convulsions, and impulsive alcohol use. Making lifestyle changes is an essential part of the journey to sobriety. By incorporating healthy habits and effective stress management techniques, individuals can better navigate the path to quitting drinking. This section will explore setting realistic goals, creating healthy habits, and stress management techniques as important components of a successful lifestyle change.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

• Unfortunately, magnesium deficiency is common in those who struggle with alcohol.
• The fellowship and shared experiences can be empowering and help you feel less alone in your journey.
• If your body is deficient in this amino acid, it’s common to experience fatigue, confusion, memory problems, a decrease in alertness, and to have a reduced appetite.
• Helps stabilize blood sugar levels, which can be disrupted by alcohol consumption.

More popular as a liver tonic, milk thistle has the active ingredient of silymarin, which can repair the damage caused by alcohol or drug addiction, hepatitis, and other toxins. Her fields of interest include Japanese translation, cooking, natural sciences, sex positivity, and mental health, along with books, books, and more books. In particular, she’s committed https://ecosoberhouse.com/ to helping decrease stigma around mental health issues. Gillian Tietz is the host of the Sober Powered podcast and recently left her career as a biochemist to create Sober Powered Media, LLC.

• Most people who experience cravings notice a mix of internal and external triggers.
• However, a 2019 study on mice found that CBD may decrease alcohol consumption.
• This post is offered as a concise review of the evidence for certain B-vitamins, vitamin C, magnesium, and zinc for reducing alcohol craving.
• Taking certain amino acids including taurine, and L-tryptophan may reduce alcohol craving or consumption and diminish withdrawal symptoms.
• The list of dietary ingredients commonly used as supplements contains vitamins and minerals.

Battling alcohol cravings can be a challenging part of the recovery process for many people. Fortunately, certain foods may help curb these cravings and contribute to a healthier lifestyle. This article explores the connection between diet and alcohol cravings and provides practical tips to incorporate beneficial foods into your daily meals. Recognizing the signs of alcohol cravings is a crucial part of managing them.