Malnutrition and Alcohol Abuse and Its Effects

As alcohol enters into our system the muscles of our intestinal track respond by moving at a much more rapid pace. This increases the rate of urination and causes diarrhea. Diarrhea works as a passage for not only waste deposits but also removes important vitamins and minerals from the body. Individuals that abuse alcohol also tend to fill their caloric needs with drinks, as opposed to food. When they do eat meals they tend to be unhealthy. This is because alcohol is an addictive carbohydrate. Consuming large amounts of this type of carbohydrate increases cravings for more unhealthy carbohydrates, as well as salts and sugars. Those who abuse alcohol, tend to eat low nutrient foods. The few nutrients that their body is receiving have trouble absorbing into the body due to the frequent episodes of diarrhea. This leads to malnutrition. Malnutrition causes significant short and long term consequences to a person's immune system, the ability for numerous organs to function properly as well as their physical appearance. Because of these factors, clinicians have found that a person entering into a alcohol treatment facility tends to be significantly more malnourished than most drug abusers.

However, alcoholics that address their nutritional behaviors by making small changes to their diet drastically improve their chances of sobriety as well as their sober existence. They feel good and more comfortable in sobriety. The behavioral changes and nutritional steps have been reviewed in the next article. Learn what you can do that can make all the difference to make you stay healthy.