Who’s hungry?
When you stop drinking alcohol, your nutritional needs are higher than usual. Alcohol strips key nutrients out of our bodies— especially the vitamins and minerals needed for our organs to create the natural feel-good chemicals like serotonin (which promotes wellbeing and happiness), GABA (controls stress reactions and relaxation), and dopamine (which impacts our emotional responses and feelings of motivation and satisfaction). As well as improving our moods, replenishing these depleted nutrients gives the body energy, helps to repair and rebuild organ tissue, and strengthens the immune system.
That means that specific food choices can help us feel stronger physically, mentally, and emotionally. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all dietary regimen for sober living, and every body is different. But replenishing nutrients and regularly eating certain foods can ease some of the symptoms that many people experience, such as mood swings, digestive issues, fatigue, anxiety, depression, muscle pain, irritability, and insomnia. I went back to school to study nutrition after I’d gotten sober, and I wish I’d had this list of supportive foods in my early days of giving up the booze. Now I want to share what I learned with everyone whether you’re totally new to sobriety, have been testing the waters, or have some sober time under your belt with some info to strengthen your sober choice. These foods will get your body back in balance and help to keep you on track with your alcohol-free lifestyle. Ready, set go:
Top 5 Foods Strengthen Your Sobriety
- Soups, Stews, and Smoothies
- Fermented Foods
- Calcium-Rich Foods
- Carbohydrates—yes, really!
- Nuts– for easy snacking!
I’ll be diving deeper into each one of these categories in subsequent posts, so be sure to subscribe below so you don’t miss a thing!
Live long and prosper,
Kimberley