Is malnutrition related to substance abuse

August 10, 2015

Is malnutrition related to substance abuse: The significance of alcohol addiction in malnutrition?

Is malnutrition related to substance abuse? this question came at the right time since currently addiction of all substances is on the rise and this is killing the good healthy habits including healthy feeding habits.

Food is very essential for anyone’s life and well-being. From the food stuff we eat we are able to get the constant supply of the energy we need to keep a float and to be productive in our daily undertakings. Even though when food is not taken the right way could also cause certain complications, it is very good and rich in nutrients which are the driving forces in the proper functionalities of our bodies. In one of the forums where doctor Dalal Akoury a veteran expert in addiction was addressing professionals in different health sectors, she posed a question that is malnutrition related to substance abuse? That question is going to form the focus of our discussion with a view of finding out the significance of alcohol addiction in malnutrition. Ideally alcohol addiction and malnutrition are two different elements that must not be allowed to have any relationship let alone one being a victim of either or both. Therefore doctor Akoury is kicking off the discussion with finding out the nutritional status of what we feed on as follows.

Is malnutrition related to substance abuse: Nutritional status?

According to the experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center a facility which was established by doctor Akoury the general observation suggests that many alcoholics in many cases do not actually feed on a well-balanced diet. And besides, excessive alcohol consumption may interfere with these alcoholics’ ability to absorb and use the nutrients they do consume. Accordingly, many alcoholics suffer from various degrees of both primary and secondary malnutrition, where primary malnutrition occurs when alcohol replaces other nutrients in the diet resulting in an overall reduction of nutrient intake. Secondary malnutrition occurs when the drinker consumes adequate nutrients but alcohol interferes with the absorption of those nutrients from the intestine so they are not available to the body.

The most severe malnutrition, which is accompanied by a significant reduction in muscle mass, generally is found in those alcoholics who are hospitalized for medical complications of alcoholism (e.g., alcohol–related liver disease or other organ damage). According to the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center if these patients continue with their drinking habits, the consequence would be that they will lose additional weight; conversely, if they abstain from drinking, they will gain weight. This pattern applies to patients with and without liver disease.

Is malnutrition related to substance abuse: Alcohol’s effects on digestion and absorption of essential nutrients?

Alcohol consumption, particularly at heavy drinking levels, not only influences the drinker’s diet but also affects the metabolism of those nutrients that are consumed. Thus, even if the user takes in sufficient proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals, deficiencies may still develop if those nutrients are not adequately absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract into the blood, are not broken down properly or are not used effectively by the body’s cells. Two classes of nutrients for which such problems occur are proteins and vitamins.

Is malnutrition related to substance abuse: Amino acids and proteins?

Proteins are essential components of all cells. They help maintain the cell’s structure, transport certain substances in and out of cells, and act as enzymes that mediate almost all biochemical reactions occurring in the cells. Proteins are composed of approximately 20 different building blocks called amino acids. Many of these amino acids can be produced by the body itself from various precursors or are recycled when proteins that are damaged or are no longer needed are broken down or degraded. Other amino acids however, must be acquired through diet. Alcohol can interfere with the uptake of these essential amino acids.

Patients with chronic liver failure also exhibit a number of defects in protein metabolism. These include decreased production of proteins in the liver that are secreted into the blood decreased urea synthesis, and decreased metabolism of a group of amino acids called aromatic amino acids. These defects have important clinical consequences:

Is malnutrition related to substance abuse: Vitamins?

Vitamins are molecules that are present in small amounts in various foods and are essential for normal metabolism; insufficient vitamin levels in the body can lead to serious diseases. Alcoholics, even without liver disease, tend to have clinical and/or laboratory signs of deficiencies in certain vitamins, particularly vitamins B₁ (thiamine), B₂ (riboflavin), B₆ (pyridoxine), and C (ascorbic acid), as well as folic acid. The severity of these deficiencies correlates with the amount of alcohol consumed and with the corresponding decrease in vitamin intake.

Is malnutrition related to substance abuse: A person’s nutrition affects liver function?

Malnutrition, regardless of its causes, can lead to liver damage and impaired liver function. For example, children in underdeveloped countries whose diets do not contain enough protein can develop a disease called kwashiorkor. One symptom of this disorder is the accumulation of fat in the liver, a condition known as fatty liver. Studies performed during and after World War II indicated that severe malnutrition also could lead to liver injury in adults. However, in these cases other factors, including exposure to certain toxins or parasites that are prevalent in war–ravaged or underdeveloped countries, may have exacerbated the relationship between liver injury and poor nutrition.

Doctor Akoury registers that because malnutrition also is common in alcoholics, clinicians initially thought that malnutrition, rather than alcohol itself, was responsible for alcohol–induced liver injury. Over the past decades, however, a more balanced view has evolved. Studies in humans, primates, and rodents have established that alcohol can cause liver damage even in well–nourished people.

In conclusion, doctor Akoury reports that it is becoming clear that nutritional effects and the toxic effects of alcohol often are intertwined at the biochemical level. Like for instance, alcohol induces the MEOS to break down alcohol. Similarly, alcohol promotes the breakdown of nutrients such as vitamin A, of which alcoholics may already consume too little with their diet. Therefore for us to be safe from all these malnutrition, our starting point should be the elimination of drug addiction from our societies and life system and that is where doctor Dalal Akoury a well-respected addiction expert of several decades come in. if this describes your situation, then it is important that you call doctor Akoury today to schedule or an appointment with her for the commencement of your addiction recovery treatment program today.

Is malnutrition related to substance abuse: The significance of alcohol addiction in malnutrition?

The significance of alcohol addiction in malnutrition

August 10, 2015

The significance of alcohol addiction in malnutrition: Liver intoxication

The significance of alcohol addiction in malnutrition can not be ignored owing to the rate at which alcohol is being misused currently

To be malnourished is a condition that deprives the body of the essential nutrients necessary for health and body comfort. It is therefore very important to make all the observations to ensure that the body gets all the food nutrients it needs. In the quest of achieving this, there will be obstacle along the way and one of the main impediments of insufficiency of nutrients is the element of substance abuse and that is why this article is going to focus on the significance of alcohol addiction in malnutrition. It is always our desire and objective to post informative health blogs and articles as a way of giving our contribution in the noble assignment of defeating the scourge of addiction from our societies. In that respect doctor Dalal Akoury who is also the founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center is going to take us through the discussion and we want to appeal to you to keep on the link and invite a friend so that we can have a healthy learning experience together.

The significance of alcohol addiction in malnutrition: Why do we say that alcohol addiction causes malnutrition?

By all standards alcohol is the world’s most abused substance. Ironically, it is also the most income generating business for authorities in terms of taxes levied on it. In other words am simply saying that despite its serious health consequences, it is legally allowed for human consumption. I have always appreciated that most authorities have put certain restrictions as controlling measures to minimize its consumption, but the truth is that these has not yielded any meaningful truth. This is because the effects of alcohol consumption is actually felt in all our families both directly and in directly. Our learning institutions are not left out either and young boys and girls are drinking disorderly to the amazement and deterioration of our morals. Now to the question “why do we say that alcohol addiction causes malnutrition”? It will surprise you to note that in this generation many alcoholics across the globe are malnourished for various reasons. Like for instance, victims of alcohol abuse will often suffer the high risk of being malnourished either because they take in very little of essential nutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, and vitamins, or because alcohol and its metabolism inhibit their body from performing its duty of properly absorbing, digesting and using those nutrients as effective as it should. This therefore brings in the significance of alcohol addiction in malnutrition in the picture. It is no wonder majority of alcohol consumers and particularly the alcoholics frequently experience deficiencies in vital food nutrients including proteins and vitamins, particularly vitamin A. the danger of these deficiencies is that if not addressed in good time, the victims risk being affected by serious and chronic liver disease and other serious alcohol–related disorders.

A complex relationship exists between a person’s alcohol consumption and nutritional status. Many people, including light to moderate drinkers who consume one to two glasses or less of an alcoholic beverage per day, consider those beverages a part of their normal diet and acquire a certain number of calories from them. When consumed in excess, however, alcohol can cause diseases by interfering with the nutritional status of the drinker. For example, alcohol can alter the intake, absorption into the body, and utilization of various nutrients. In addition, alcohol exerts some harmful effects through its breakdown (i.e., metabolism) and the resulting toxic compounds, particularly in the liver, where most of the alcohol metabolism occurs.

The significance of alcohol addiction in malnutrition: Nutritional value of alcohol

Alcoholic beverages primarily consist of water, pure alcohol which is chemically known as ethanol and variable amounts of sugars i.e., carbohydrates; these are the major ingredients you will find in purr alcohol drink nonetheless in what would be considered to be seriously negligible is the content of other nutrients including proteins, vitamins, or minerals which would construed to apportion of less than one percent of the whole content of pure alcohol put together. Doctor Akoury says that looking at the negligibility of the nutrient content in pure alcohol, experts have in unison consented that because they provide almost no potential food nutrients and alcoholic beverages are considered empty calories. It therefore means that any calories that may be provided by alcoholic beverages are derived from the carbohydrates and alcohol they contain. Besides that it is very important to note that even as we appreciate this inadequacy, the carbohydrate content varies greatly among beverage types.

In spite of all these says doctor Akoury that under certain conditions, it will however interest you to note that alcohol derived calories when misused and taken in extensive amounts can have less biologic value than carbohydrate derived calories. This has been a subject of several studies. Like for instance in ones of the studies where the weights of two groups of participants who received balanced diets containing equal numbers of calories. In this study, it was established that one of the groups, 50 percent of total calories were derived from carbohydrates, whereas in the other group the calories were derived from alcohol. The study participants were observed on the metabolic ward of a hospital during the experiments. The quantity of alcohol administered did not exceed the amount routinely consumed by these volunteers.

Finally although all participants received the same number of calories, those in the alcohol group exhibited a decline in body weight compared with those in the carbohydrate group. Moreover, when the participants received additional calories in the form of alcohol, they did not experience any corresponding weight gain. This suggests that some of the energy contained in alcohol is “lost” or “wasted” meaning, it is not available to the body for producing or maintaining body mass. This is a very interesting discussion and we are going to continue with it in our most immediate article. And for that reason we want to make a further appeal to you to stay on the link to continue receiving these valuable health information. In the meantime, if you are struggling with alcohol addiction and you don’t know how to start or who to approach, then you are at the right place where all addiction problems are professionally addressed. take that initiative of calling doctor Akoury to schedule for an appointment with her for the commencement of your recovery process.

The significance of alcohol addiction in malnutrition: Liver intoxication

The contributions of alcohol addiction to malnutrition

June 28, 2015

The contributions of alcohol addiction to malnutrition: Primary and secondary malnutrition

The contributions of alcohol addiction to malnutrition is realistically here with us, the sooner we approach it soberly the better for everyone.

Malnutrition is an avoidable problem but some of our habits make it very difficult to do so. It is interesting to note that no one would want to be put in the category of malnourished people yet our actions does not really conform with the things that will prevent us from being malnourished. From the previous article, we have just established that alcoholic beverages are only rich in water and ethanol with very negligible patches of come nutrients. I do not know what you do with your life but one thing I do know is that if you are misusing alcohol consistently, then you need to stay on the link and follow keenly on the contributions of alcohol addiction to malnutrition. Experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center will be sharing with us on some of the things we need to know to be safe from both the problems of alcohol addiction as well as being malnourished out of our thirst for alcohol.

In general doctor Akoury the MD and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center states that from the observation made in various scientific studies, there are clear evidence that many alcoholics do not consume a balanced diet; moreover, as had been mentioned earlier, excessive alcohol consumption may interfere with these alcoholics’ ability to absorb and use the nutrients they do consume productively. Accordingly, many alcoholics suffer from various degrees of both primary and secondary malnutrition. Primary malnutrition occurs when alcohol replaces other nutrients in the diet, resulting in overall reduced nutrient intake. Secondary malnutrition occurs when the drinker consumes adequate nutrients but alcohol interferes with the absorption of those nutrients from the intestine so they are not available to the body.

The most severe malnutrition, which is accompanied by a significant reduction in muscle mass, generally is found in those alcoholics who are hospitalized for medical complications of alcoholism (e.g., alcohol–related liver disease or other organ damage). If these patients continue to drink, they will lose additional weight; conversely, if they abstain from drinking, they will gain weight. This pattern applies to patients with and without liver disease.

The contributions of alcohol addiction to malnutrition: Alcohol’s effects on digestion and absorption of essential nutrients

Alcohol consumption, particularly at heavy drinking levels, not only influences the drinker’s diet but also affects the metabolism of those nutrients that are consumed. Thus, even if the drinker ingests sufficient proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals, deficiencies may develop if those nutrients are not adequately absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract into the blood, are not broken down properly or are not used effectively by the body’s cells. Two classes of nutrients for which such problems occur are proteins and vitamins.

The contributions of alcohol addiction to malnutrition: Amino acids and proteins

The contributions of alcohol addiction to malnutrition: Vitamins

Vitamins are molecules that are present in small amounts in various foods and are essential for normal metabolism; insufficient vitamin levels in the body can lead to serious diseases. Alcoholics, even without liver disease, tend to have clinical or laboratory signs of deficiencies in certain vitamins, particularly vitamins B₁ (thiamine), B₂ (riboflavin), B₆ (pyridoxine), and C (ascorbic acid), as well as folic acid. The severity of these deficiencies correlates with the amount of alcohol consumed and with the corresponding decrease in vitamin intake.

The contributions of alcohol addiction to malnutrition: A person’s nutrition affects liver function

Because malnutrition also is common in alcoholics, clinicians initially thought that malnutrition, rather than alcohol itself, was responsible for alcohol–induced liver injury. Over the past 40 years, however, a more balanced view has evolved. Studies in humans, primates, and rodents have established that alcohol can cause liver damage even in well–nourished people.

It is becoming clear that nutritional effects and the toxic effects of alcohol often are intertwined at the biochemical level. For example, alcohol induces the MEOS to break down alcohol. Similarly, alcohol promotes the breakdown of nutrients such as vitamin A, of which alcoholics may already consume too little with their diet. All these addiction related complications can be corrected with the right professional’s involvement. You may want to consult with the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury. Talking to doctor Akoury should be your starting point and you can do this by scheduling for an appointment with her to day for the commencement of your much desired breakthrough and comfort in life.

The contributions of alcohol addiction to malnutrition: Primary and secondary malnutrition

Vitamin Therapy for Rehabilitation

June 16, 2014

Vitamin Therapy for Rehabilitation-Drug Addiction

Malnourishment is a serious factor in addiction and proper nutrition is necessary for rehabilitation. Vitamins are very essential.

The debate on addiction is endless and experts are beginning to believe that nearly everything can be addictive depending on how you use the element before you. And that is why careful attention needs to be taken in the prevention and treatment to bring the problem of addiction to manageable levels. In an effort to do this we will be discussing the use of vitamin therapy in rehabilitating the drug addicts. Generally food is a very key component in ensuring the proper functionality of the body. We all need food to give us the energy we need to function. The absence of food is disaster in the waiting and so good nutritious food is very instrumental in rehabilitating drug addicts.

Vitamin Therapy for Rehabilitation-Malnourishment and Drug Abuse

It is important that we define the word malnutrition for us to have a better understanding of what we are talking about. It is a serious condition that occurs when a person’s diet does not contain the right amount of food nutrients and it is a common side effect among alcoholics and substance abusers. Malnourishment occurs majorly among drug abusers due to the decreased food ingestion and in some cases impaired metabolism and absorption processes. Besides this it is also lead to vitamin and mineral deficiencies which can cause many serious health problems. Drugs like heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and amphetamine are known to cause loss of appetite because of this drug abusers may stay up for days at a time on a binge and suffer dehydration and electrolyte imbalances as a result.

Malnourishment leads to a breakdown of basic bodily function and vitamin deficiencies. Vitamins are essential to maintaining growth and normal metabolism because they regulate many physiological processes. Fatigue, digestive problems, menstruation issues, tooth decay, aches and pains are often experienced by people who are malnourished. Additionally, people who suffer from malnutrition are vulnerable to infection. The nutrients from food are essential to the functioning of the effectiveness of the immune system. Without a properly functioning immune system one is easily susceptible to disease.

Vitamin Therapy for Rehabilitation-Vitamin Deficiencies and Drug Abuse

Alcohol consumers or those who take drugs are usually faced with vitamin deficiencies and in some cases are malnourished. These deficiencies usually occur as result of poor nutrition and a lack of good health. Long term, and in some case, irreversible health problems can occur when someone has a deficiency in an essential vitamin or mineral.
Thiamine deficiency is a very serious disorder that occurs as a consequence of poor nutrition and a lack of thiamine, or vitamin B1.

Individuals who suffer from chronic alcoholism are at risk of suffering from a very serious health condition known as Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome, or Wet Brain Syndrome. Vitamin B1 is essential for brain function and the nervous system, flow of electrolytes in and out of cells, digestion and carbohydrate metabolism. Thiamine is found in many foods such as:

Beef
Wheat
Milk
Oranges
Seeds and cereals

Majority of people today get the sufficiency of food nutrients they need from the good and adequate food they consume. Since we get these nutrients from food drug abusers may not get this benefit because they tend to neglect their diet and health, with this they are at risk of causing a deficiency in thiamine.

Liver disease is another consequence of poor health and inadequate consumption of essential vitamins. The luck of vitamin A and E in the body is as a result of poor nutrition and this can cause great damage to the functions of the body. The metabolism of vitamin A is affected by alcohol consumption which may end up in the damage to the liver.

Alcohol also affects the amount or quantity of calcium in the body and if this goes for a long time may lead to osteoporosis and other bodily health conditions. Calcium is an important nutrient for many body functions including among other uses:

Vascular contraction and vasodilation
Muscle function
Nerve transmission
Intracellular signaling
Hormonal secretion along with bone strength

Research has established that chronic alcoholism interferes with vitamin D metabolism and this can result in inadequate absorption of dietary calcium and loss in bone mass and density.

Vitamin Therapy for Rehabilitation-Vitamin Therapy in Drug Abuse Treatment

Vitamin therapy is the use of high doses of vitamins to treat diseases and conditions. This alternative approach to health care has been found to provide impressive results in some cases for many different diseases, including alcoholism and substance abuse. Evidence has shown that vitamin therapy can aid in reducing withdrawal symptoms, increase the treatment retention rates and improve mental health. This may be because of the chronic deficiencies that some people have as a result of their long term drug or alcohol use and because of the healing properties that specific vitamins, such as vitamin C, have been found to induce.

Chronic depletion of vitamins and minerals should be considered in any health treatment for substance abuse. For alcoholics and drug addicts, nutrients commonly used in vitamin treatment include niacin; B complex vitamins especially B1, B5 and B6; antioxidants such as vitamin C and vitamin E; calcium and magnesium. Each of these vitamins has been found to facilitate a large number of metabolic processes and their deficiencies can be associated with mental disturbances and chronic health problems.

Vitamin Therapy for Rehabilitation-Adverse Reactions to Vitamins

Experts through various studies have established that adverse effects from vitamin and mineral supplements are incredibly rare and levels of supplementing vitamins required to evoke a reaction are far higher than would be considered practical. Safety studies indicate that adverse effects from short-term use of high dose vitamins used during withdrawal or rehabilitation are negligible. With the exception of synthetic vitamin A, it is most likely that adverse events associated with high doses of a single vitamin are actually caused by resulting nutrient imbalances.

Finally we have been discussing vitamin therapy for rehabilitation drug addicts and it is clear that food nutrition plays an enormous role and so this must be encouraged by all means. While doing this it is also necessary that we seek the services of experts who have been in this discipline for in death understanding. Dr. Dalal Akoury who is the founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center is an expert of over two decades and has been offering her exclusive NER Recovery Treatment to other physicians and health care professionals through training, clinical apprenticeships, webinars and seminars. With experts like doctor Akoury you will not only recover nutritionally but also physically you will regain yourself completely and live a life full of hope, satisfaction and free from any form of addiction.

Vitamin Therapy for Rehabilitation-Drug Addiction

Tag Archives: Malnutrition