Having a glass of wine each day or even a few drinks on the weekends can be a good way to unwind and socialize. The American Council on Science and Health states that, "Among middle-aged and elderly people, moderate drinkers have lower mortality rates than do abstainers." However, some people may find that they’re drinking much more than they should. Cutting back or abstaining from alcohol is beneficial for many, and flaxseed oil can help detox the body and ward off some of the withdrawal symptoms.
Stay Hydrated and Eat Healthy
When going through the alcohol detoxification process, be sure to stay hydrated and drink half your body weight (in ounces) each day. For example, if someone weighs 160 pounds, they should be drinking 80 ounces of water a day. For a person weighing 200 pounds they would need to drink 100 ounces of water daily. Water helps to counteract the dehydrating effect that alcohol has on the body and also helps to flush out toxins.
It's always wise to follow a healthy diet, so be sure to include fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and complex carbohydrates. Legumes such as beans and lentils, and whole grains like brown rice and oats, help to balance blood glucose levels and provide fiber that binds to toxins and eliminates them from the body.
Flaxseed Oil
Rich in alpha linolenic acid (ALA), an omega-3 fat, flaxseed is one of the healthiest oils around. Taking just two tablespoons a day will give you almost 150% of the RDA for omega-3 fatty acids. Flax oil can help reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, is an anti-inflammatory, and can help to lower high cholesterol and blood pressure levels.
The way flaxseed oil can boost detox efforts when quitting or reducing alcohol is by decreasing inflammation of the lining of the stomach and other tissues. It also helps to reduce stress put on the body while going through the detoxification process. Flaxseed oil is also used to reduce headaches and anxiety levels.
The typical dosage when using the liquid form of flaxseed oil is to take one to two tablespoons daily either in food, over salads, or in smoothies or protein drinks. For those who don’t like the taste of flaxseed oil, take two 1,000mg capsules daily.
Alcohol Detox Symptoms
For those who have a healthier lifestyle, they may notice only mild or no detox symptoms at all. If someone has a less healthy lifestyle and has been drinking for a longer period of time, they could experiences moderate to severe detox symptoms. Symptoms may include alcohol cravings, insomnia, dry mouth, depression, weakness, upset stomach, headache, irritability, fatigue, and loss of appetite.
How long to detox will depend on how long a person has been drinking, how much, and their level of overall health. The typical timeframe for a detoxification routine would be two to three months, as this allows the body to completely eliminate any toxins that have been stored in the fat cells of the body.
Sources:
University of Maryland Medical Center - Flaxseed Oil
Kelly Wallace - Kelly is a seasoned freelance writer, multi-published author, radio show host, teacher, speaker and highly acclaimed intuitive ...
Join the Conversation