Healing the Addicted Brain with Amino Acids-It is very possible

You can free yourself from addiction by good nutrition. Your brain needs amino acids to function normally.

Addiction is a condition which is real and within us. We are either affected directly or indirectly. Despite its grave effects to humanity we have yet to appreciate that addiction is a physical disorder originating in the brain. Addiction has painful symptoms which occur during abstinence that interferes with the ability to stay sober. Some of these symptoms include; craving, obsession, compulsion, stress sensitivity, anxiety, depression, mental confusion, and hypersensitivity to the environment. It is also important to note that the pain of staying sober can be so severe that it may interfere with the ability to function normally even when the desire for and commitment is strong.

Healing the Addicted Brain with Amino Acids-Neurotransmitters and Addiction

Everyone need comfort both physical and emotional, for this to effectively take place, neurotransmitters will play a very significant role in feelings of pleasure and well-being. The brain will in the event of deficiency or excess of the neurotransmitters will give rise to uncomfortable feelings. Many at times the decisions and actions we take are chosen to produce good feeling or relieve bad feelings. For example:

• We eat because it produces a reward of good feelings.
• We eat certain foods because they produce a better reward than others (chocolate produces more reward for most people than parsley).
• We have sex because it produces a powerful release of pleasurable chemicals.
• We work because the work itself is rewarding for us or because the end result produces a reward.
• We refrain from certain actions because they do not produce the feeling of reward we are seeking.
• We all differ in what gives us satisfaction and in the depth of satisfaction we experience, but we are all motivated by chemical actions in the brain that nature uses to keep us alive, motivated, functioning, and reproducing.

An imbalance in the interaction of neurotransmitters can result in a reward deficiency3 that can manifest as restlessness, anxiety, emptiness, lack of satisfaction, and vague or specific cravings. When this takes place the brain is simply communicating to us to take action to make right the imbalance. There are substances and activities that change our biochemistry so much that we want to do them over and over. And if the person has a reward deficit that predisposes to addiction, the activity that works will be repeated as often as necessary to get the desired reward. For the person predisposed to addiction, the chosen activity will rapidly go from self-medication to addiction.

But because a substance does not lead to out-of-control behavior does not mean that it is not dangerous. Many socially acceptable addictions can lead to serious health problems and even death. Nicotine usually does not lead to intoxication but does lead to serious health problems. It is far more addicting than alcohol or illegal drugs and is usually accompanied by severe withdrawal symptoms when smoking ceases and can be as painful as withdrawing from alcohol or cocaine. Prescription painkillers and antidepressants can be highly addictive. Withdrawal, especially from benzodiazepines, can be very serious and can even lead to death. For some people, food is the most powerful mood-altering substance available. Most people believe that overeating is a lack of willpower or self-discipline. But the people most susceptible to it often have a physical condition that keeps them from feeling satisfied from normal eating. Some addictions are not to substances but to behaviors such gambling, compulsive working, or excessive spending. The problem does not lie in the behavior itself, but in how it is done. If any behavior is accompanied by compulsion, obsession, and negative consequences, it is a problem and requires some action to learn to manage the behavior in a healthy way.

Healing the Addicted Brain with Amino Acids-Treatment for the Addicted Brain

While research has opened doors to new understandings of the nature of addiction and its effect on the brain, little of this information has been applied to actually helping people get well from this devastating disease. There are scientifically based strategies that change the brain chemistry of the addicted person, removing the discomfort of withdrawal, eliminating cravings, and relieving the abstinence-based symptoms of addiction. These include nutritional therapy, acupuncture, auricular-therapy, and brain wave biofeedback. The most important is the nutritional approach, especially with the use of amino acids, which is the focus of this discussion.

Healing the Addicted Brain with Amino Acids-Amino Acid Therapy

Neurotransmitters are made from amino acids, the building blocks of protein. The nervous system is regulated almost entirely by amino acids and their biochemical companions, vitamins and minerals. There are key neurotransmitters that are affected by addiction and need to be restored to their normal state for the recovering person to be free of cravings and anxiety. The amino acids, precursors to neurotransmitters, can be taken separately, as a formulated compound, or intravenously. Intravenous delivery has the advantage of bypassing the digestive system. This offers hope for the thousands of people whose digestive systems have been damaged by addiction to alcohol or drugs, caffeine, or junk food. Certain vitamins—especially B vitamins—activate and potentiate the effects of amino acids.

Healing the Addicted Brain with Amino Acids-Nutrition

For the brain to recover from addiction effectively the addicted person’s brain will need good food nutrients. For example amino acids and vitamins are essential for nourishing the brain. The good food nutrients and adequate supply of amino acids is not just until you are feeling better, and not just until the initial withdrawal and craving are gone. No one seeking freedom from the discomfort of addiction must make the same kind of commitment to healthy feeding habits all the time.

Depending on what amino acids they contain, some foods increase mental alertness, concentration, and energy, while others are natural tranquilizers that calm feelings of anxiety and stress. The neurotransmitter tyrosine synthesizes to dopamine and norepinephrine, increasing energy and alertness. Foods highest in tyrosine are foods derived from animal protein: chicken, turkey, pork, beef, dairy, and eggs. Moderate amounts of tyrosine are found in plant foods such as beans, corn, spinach, oatmeal, nuts, and seeds.

A very important thing to know about a diet for recovery is that protein contains all the essential amino acids. Therefore a high-protein diet will give your brain more of what it needs. Complete protein foods include meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy products. The body stores very little protein, so you should eat it at least three times a day. And for the sake of both energy and your brain, we recommend three meals and three snacks daily.

Healing the Addicted Brain with Amino Acids-Supporting Recovery

To support healing of the brain, other healthy lifestyle choices are important. A regular exercise, yoga, rest, relaxation, fun, and creative living are important to reduce stress and increase a sense of serenity and well-being. However healthy living with good nutrition is the key to recovery from addiction. Nevertheless people who are struggling with addiction and are wondering if ever they will ever overcome the compulsion and obsession related to an addictive substance or the agony of abstinence your help is on the way at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under Doctor Akoury’s care. This is the place to be  and you will meet a team of experts who will help you get well while focusing on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) to reinstate normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE.

Healing the Addicted Brain with Amino Acids-It is very possible