While detox intensity does vary significantly depending on such factors as length of period of drug use, kind of drug(s) in question, dosage and frequency of use, state of one’s physical health and other personal specificities, it is widely known that drug use pollutes one’s system. It also reduces overall amounts of vitamins, minerals and other useful nutrients that are necessary for ensuring its functionality and ability to serve a person for as many years as possible.
So, even if there is a relatively mild detox ahead with light level of toxins exposure and a strong organism to handle it successfully, there is still the need to pay special attention to giving one’s system health-giving nutrients and vitamins that provide support for one’s better metabolism, alleviate withdrawal symptoms if those are present and ensure less damage to a body.
Despite the fact that detox has previously meant specific process of getting one’s system rid of drugs, alcohol, nicotine or other alien toxic substances, often under professional medical supervision in special facilities, in recent years its original meaning has extended to signify also various diets that stick to healthier food assuming that many foods we now consume also intoxicates our bodies to a certain extent. However, in cases of drug detox healthy diet is not just a benefit, it is merely necessity. As drugs are being flushed out of one’s system, there is not so much of good that stays in there. And there must be, right? So it is extremely important for a person to do a bit more effort and ensure diet that will not just help one’s body to get rid of toxins but also brings helpful replacement with some good stuff in order to reestablish a system’s balance quicker and with better results.
Nowadays vitamins are available for us both with food and special food supplements one can get in any drugstore. This article provides brief review of useful substances that may be of help to a body during drug detox to make this process go faster and easier.
Amino Acids and Omega-3 Acids
The former ones are known for their ability to support good brain functioning, liver regeneration and helping to establish sleeping regime, also reducing some unpleasant physical withdrawal symptoms like cravings. What for the latter, they provide significant help for good heart work and maintaining more or less stable mood during detox, as Omega-3 acids serve as helpers in struggle with depression. High-protein food like red meat, seafood, poultry, dairy products and eggs as well as tofu, seeds and beens will be of a lot of help in increasing one’s level of amino acids. For Omega-3 acids, try fish oil supplements or fish itself.
B Vitamins
Vitamins of this group are responsible for such body functions as converting sugar into energy (B1, B3 and B5), producing blood cells (B6 and B12), supporting digestive tract (B8 and B9) and helping to balance one’s nervous system. As drug use negatively influences the ability of a body to absorb these vitamins, taking care of refilling their supplies during and after detox is necessary. One can do it either by taking pills that contain the whole complex of vitamins of this group like B2 (riboflavine), B5 (pantothenic acid), B8 (inositol), B9 (folic acid) etc, or by picking foods like dark green vegetables (asparagus, broccoli, spinach, green peppers), lentils, liver, romaine lettuce. Moreover, B5 and B12 are especially helpful for detox from meth, the whole B complex is of use in case of detox from opiates. B vitamins also have natural cleansing properties that speed up detox process and establish substances’ balance in an organism.
C Vitamin
This vitamin, also known as ascorbic acid, alleviates detox process by minimizing drug cravings and keeping one in a good mood. Having natural ability to strengthen immune system, it helps our body’s natural support mechanism and also protects out organs from damage toxins cause by fighting free radicals. It also facilitates brain functioning by helping to make neurotransmitters. To ensure good supply of one’s body with this vitamin, one should pay attention to citrus fruits, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, strawberries, cauliflower, green peppers and other foods.
E Vitamin
If used together with vitamin C, vitamin E positively influences one’s cognitive functions and reduces overall stress one’s organism is put under by drug detox process. Moreover, it is a powerful antioxidant that is able to reduce damage caused by alien chemical substances as well as an instrument that restores healthy work of blood cells in a system. It can be found in spinach, almonds, avocados, fish, kale, plant oils etc.
Calcium and Magnesium
Positively affecting our nervous system and having a relaxing effect on muscles that, in its turn, alleviate cravings and tremors possible during detox, these elements help in stabilizing our state both in physical and mental aspects. Calcium deficit may be especially dangerous for women, who face serious risk of getting osteoporosis or already lack calcium if they are pregnant, as this is one of the elements a fetus needs in big amounts, not mentioning overall danger of drug use and detox for future mothers. To fulfill possible lack of calcium, one should turn to green leafy vegetables, grains, enriched breads and dairy products, as well as get a bit of sun if possible, as it enables calcium supplements to work better. For magnesium turn to nuts and seeds, fish like salmon or tuna, avocados, bananas, dark leafy vegetables.
While those vitamins have proven to be effective in alleviating one’s detox process, wise approach and careful consideration of necessity of one or another vitamin is the question to be thought through properly. Overdose of any substance is possible, and the fact that it is overall helpful doesn’t make consequences for one’s health any less unpleasant. One also has to take into account all personal issues regarding state of health and, probably, consult a doctor if there are any doubts regarding taking this or that vitamin, especially as a supplement bought at a drugstore.
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