Most experts sustain the idea that alcoholism can lead to emotional problems, obesity, nerve and brain dysfunction, low sexuality and impotence, immune suppression, nutritional deficiencies, and others. Obviously, this requires alcohol detoxification special programs. The alcohol detoxification process can include the medical, nutritional, orthomolecular, naturopathic approach or combination of some or all of the above. The most successful programs in getting alcoholics to quit drinking are the nutritional special programs. Many people choose to follow alcohol detoxification special programs, because it is a natural approach to alcohol withdrawal.

Alcohol detoxification through nutritional therapy consists in elimination, from the human body, of alcohol and toxins stored during alcohol abuse. During recovery time, the patient follows a balanced nourishment with a low-fat and moderate protein. This nutritional therapy for alcohol detoxification plays an essential role in modifying the body's detoxification pathways. Eating every few hours and avoiding refined and sugar foods, candy, soft drinks, exception of small amounts of fruits, is much recommended in this treatment period. Generally, legumes, potatoes, pasta, squashes, whole grains and other vegetables are the main elements of this diet. Fish, poultry, eggs, soy products are also recommended.

Usually, the alcohol abusers who are physically healthy have no need for dietary modification. However, they can decrease their probability of alcoholism problems by limiting their alcohol consumption. Specific dietary modifications of these special programs, are for people at different stages of alcoholism who have various health problems. For example, patients who are overweight should reduce their overall energy intake; the patients with hypertension should restrict sodium in their nutritional therapy; and patients with elevated blood cholesterol or triglycerides should limit their intake of dietary cholesterol, alcohol, total fat, and simple sugars.

At the time therapy begins, or when alcohol intake is modified, many
drinking patients are in a poor state of health. This state is characterized by hypertension, obesity, indigestion, nausea, diarrhea, etc. of drinking patients. More, most of these patients experience combinations of weakness, agitation, gastrointestinal distress, or depression during the period of nutritional therapy of alcohol detoxification. All these symptoms are associated with a drinking patient's return to a normal state. Because of the multiple nutrient deficiencies associated with alcoholism, most alcohol abusers who quit drinking need more supplement with a high-potency multivitamin-mineral.

Along with some food, before drinking, it is recommended to take B vitamins, including 50 mg. each of B1, B2, and B3, 400 mcg. of folic acid, and 100 mcg. of B12, 15-30 mg. of zinc, and 300-500 mg. of magnesium. In this way, good advice is that drinking should be limited to two drinks per day. It is very important, that such nutritional therapy should be supervised by a qualified nutritionist, because it is possible that when toxins are released too quickly, they may cause headaches, diarrhea or irritability. Generally, a key to proper treatment at the proper time is to work with alcohol detoxification individually. It does take a sensitive person or a sensitive practitioner to find the right path.