Posted on

Alcohol Dependence and Naturopathic Considerations

The purpose of this article is to review nutritional issues related to alcohol abuse. I do not claim that other forms of treatment are not needed. The psychological aspect of alcohol dependence and need for counseling is important. For the purpose of this article I am focusing on nutrition as it is within my area of expertise and something which I feel is often over looked when it comes to alcohol addiction.

Alcohol and The liver

Alcohol is detoxified in the liver. Two enzymes are responsible for this are:

  • Alcohol dehdrongenase

    This enzyme convert alcohol into aldehyde. The nutrient NAD+ is needed for this to happen.

  • Aldehyde dehydrongenase

    Once alcohol is converted into aldehyde, the aldehyde must further be detoxified. In fact, it is the aldehyde which is believed to be the cause of many harmful effects of alcohol. Aldehyde is broken down into acetate, which is eventually converted into long chain fatty acids.

Leptin is a hormone which helps to regulate appetite and energy metabolism. High levels of leptin are known to contribute to fatty liver. It is elevated with chronic alcohol use.

Ways alcohol causes fatty liver

  • Increase fatty acid production
  • Oxidative stress in liver from processing alcohol
  • Increased leptin

Alcohol and blood sugar

Basic nutritional facts about caloric content is as follows:

  • Carbohydrates have 4 calories per gram
  • Proteins have 4 calories per gram
  • Fats have 9 calories per gram

What is not appreciated is how many calories are in alcohol

  • Alcohol has 7 calories per gram

This makes alcohol very calorie dense. This is one reason why alcohol causes weight gain.

Alcohol also causes and immediate rise in blood sugar. However, in large amounts and over time it actually lowers blood sugar. Alcohol can lower blood sugar so much that it leads to hypoglycemia.

Hypoglycemia is a state of too little blood sugar. Symptoms of hypoglycemia include:

  • Sweating
  • Tremors
  • Increased heart rate
  • Anxiety
  • Hunger
  • Dizziness
  • Headaches
  • Visual disturbance
  • Decreased mental acuity
  • Confusion
  • Depression

Hypoglycemia causes people to crave things that raise blood sugar; either sugary foods, or alcohol. This causes a viscous cycle, as those foods don’t elevate blood sugar for long, before leading to another bought of hypoglycemia.

B vitamin deficiency

Alcohol can cause deficiencies in B vitamins. Once of particular importance is vitamin B1 (thiamine). B1 is essential in order to convert sugar into energy. Without enough B1 people feel tired. They will also tend to crave simple sugars because the body is trying to get more energy. Unfortunately, without B1 it can’t convert sugar into energy.

Cravings for sugar and snacks is commonly caused by a B1 deficiency. In those with alcohol dependence instead of craving sugar to raise blood sugar, they will want alcohol instead.

Additional support for the adrenal glands may be needed. The stress hormone cortisol is produced by the adrenals and has a profound effect of blood sugar regulation. High cortisol raises blood sugar. It cortisol is too low it can cause hypoglycemia.

Go to this page for more information on adrenal support and supplementation

Nutrients and Alcohol

Alcohol will deplete the body of nutrients. People who drink also tend have alcohol instead of food, which means there may be less nutrients coming in.

Coconut oil and MCTs

The medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) in coconut can be easily converted into energy without raising blood sugar. For this reason, MCTs may be useful in conditions where blood sugar is not well regulated.

Minerals

The two enzymes that detoxify alcohol in the liver (Alcohol dehdrongenase and Aldehyde dehydrongenase) depend on zinc. Alcohol also may interfere in the absorption of zinc from the digestive tract and increase the loss of zinc in the urine. Therefore drinking can lead to zinc deficiency.

Magnesium status may also be low. Alcohols causes increase urination of magnesium.

Anti-oxidants

Lipid peroxidation is a process in which free radicals degrade fats in the body causing them to harm cells. This is on the main ways that alcohol leads to liver disease.
Antioxidant nutrients are needed to protect the body from free radicals. They also tend to be low in alcoholics, which makes the damage caused by lipid peroxidation worse. Key nutrients needed to protect the liver include: vitamins A, C, E and selenium.

Carnitine is a supplement commonly used to enhance energy production. The body needs it to converts fat into energy. Alcohol consumption seems to deplete the body of carnitine and supplementing can help to inhibit alcohol induced fatty liver disease.

Fatty acids

Alcohol may interfere in the metabolism of essential fatty acids. Fish oil may therefore be helpful. Fatty acids profiles may also be tested on blood work.

Posted on

Naturopathic Treatment of Adrenal Fatigue

What Is Adrenal Fatigue?

The adrenals are small glands about the size of an almond that sit on top of each kidney. They produce the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol is our body’s major stress hormone. It greatly affects how we feel and how much energy we have. Adrenal fatigue is the concept that long-term stress lowers the adrenals gland’s ability to make cortisol. Low cortisol then causes people to feel tired.

Image of adrenal glands

The General Adaptation Syndrome

In 1956 Hans Selye’s book “The Stress of Life” was first published. He based this on animal research of cortisol and adrenal function in animals. Experiments where done such as putting rats under stress, then testing then for changes in cortisol and size of the adrenal glands. He found that stress caused profound changes to the adrenal glands in three stages. He called this the general adaptation syndrome.

The stress of life book

Phase 1: Alarm

This is the fight-or-flight response. It’s designed to help us survive immediate danger. Cortisol surges to move more blood and oxygen to the lungs and muscle. Other systems not needed at the moment slow down.

Functions stimulated

  • Increased blood pressure
  • Strengthens heart contractions
  • increases blood sugar
  • Excites mood and focuses mental clarity.

Functions supressed

  • Decreased digestion
  • Decreased detoxification
  • Lowers immune system function
  • Protein catabolism. The body breaks down its own proteins for fast, emergency energy.

Phase 2: Resistance

If the acute stress does not go away, then cortisol can remain elevated. This lead to illness of high stress such as hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.

Phase 3: Exhaustion

If the adrenals glands can’t keep up and cortisol production drops. Too much cortisol is bad, but so is too little. We need to have enough cortisol for the following processes:
  • Maintain blood sugar
  • Maintain blood pressure
  • Regulate inflammation
  • Proper fluid and electrolyte regulation

Symptoms of adrenal fatigue include:

  • Low blood sugar (may cause hypoglycemia)
  • Inflammation (arthritis, aches, pains, worsens inflammatory conditions>
  • Insomnia (especially people who wake 2 – 3AM)
  • Decreased immune function – may often get sick with colds/flu/viral infections and takes longer to recover
  • Low blood pressure – may feel faint when standing up quickly
  • Cravings for salty food
  • Depressed mood
  • Frequent urination

Saliva Cortisol Tests

Cortisol is normally about 10 times higher in the morning than at night. It varies much during the day. Stress of eating sugar raises it. Reducing stress lowers it. A single blood test is typically not going to be very helpful.

When saliva cortisol tests came out, practitioners finally had a tool to measure cortisol through the whole day. Too high or low cortisol could now much more easily be found. Some people also have deregulated rhythms, such as cortisol low in the morning and high at night. At times knowing the pattern of adrenal function can help treatment.

For more on cortisol tests go to the functional medicine page.

What Is Stress?

Selye  defined stress as “the body’s nonspecific response to any additional demand.” Any is the key word. It doesn’t matter if the stress is long hours at work, a poor diet, or physical illness. The body has only one stress response. It tells the adrenals to make more cortisol.

The society we live in puts great stress on people. This can be from working too many hours, emotional stress, or eating a bad diet. Lifestyle changes help. This includes meditation, exercise, calming music or anything else which relaxes the nervous system.

We can’t easily escape from our stress. But supplements for adrenal fatigue can help us handle it better.

  • Herbal adaptogens
  • Calming herbs
  • B vitamins
  • Pregnenolone and DHEA
  • Glandulars

For more information, go to the page on adrenal supplements.

Adrenal Fatigue versus Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Adrenal fatigue referrers to a state of diminished cortisol brought on by any prolonged stress.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a condition of debilitating fatigue. It is typically associated with a weakened immune system. Someone with CFS may have adrenal fatigue, however the two are not the same.

For more information on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome go to this page.

Adrenal fatigue is one cause of fatigue. Is is not the only cause. The concept of adrenal fatigue is only useful within a holistic framework. Many different things can make someone feels tired.

Some of the more common triggers of fatigue include:

Infection
Heavy metals
Environmental toxicity
Candida and yeast
Viral infections
Lyme and confections
Poor immunity
Poor digestion
Anemia
Other hormonal issues
Structural / physical injury

Often several of these factors are working together to cause fatigue. It is important to support the adrenal glands, but this is often just one part of a larger picture.