What is Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)
When it comes to cutting down our alcohol intake or stopping drinking altogether, very few may think of Apple Cider Vinegar as a helpful element for alcohol detox.
In recent times, Apple Cider Vinegar is a supplement that has become more and more popular for those dealing with alcohol withdrawal.
Apple Cider Vinegar has many benefits when it comes to dealing with withdrawal symptoms.
How Does ACV Help With Withdrawal?
Detoxification is an intricate process that occurs naturally in your body when you stop consuming substances that are detrimental to your overall health, such as drugs and alcohol.
It may seem like all we have to do is sit back and let the body detox, and voila, but this isn’t the case. In reality, those who consume excessive amounts of alcohol over a long period and then abruptly stop are well aware of the difficulties and challenges that come with it. Even though your body can detoxify itself, it can be a highly uncomfortable and unpleasant experience.
At Desistal, we only add ingredients that will support you in your recovery. Ingredients such as supplements, such as apple cider vinegar, can be beneficial in keeping your body and mind as it works to eliminate the influence of alcohol. Furthermore, the mental health benefits of apple cider vinegar are intriguing.
Detoxing from alcohol can have physical side effects, but one of the most challenging barriers is how you perceive yourself and your relationship with alcohol. Apple cider vinegar can assist in addressing these mental health concerns and support you in achieving long-term recovery.
Acetate and Mental Health
The main component that makes up Apple Cider Vinegar is Acetic acid. Acetic Acid is what makes Apple Cider Vinegar a strong taste and smell.
Acetic acid is a short-chained fatty acid which, when consumed, will then dissolve and turn into acetate and hydrogen, which can help reduce inflammation while providing antioxidant activity.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a recent study has highlighted the potential benefits of acetate for mental health. The study focused on people who have been struggling with depression, anxiety, and alcoholism during the pandemic. The study showed the group that took acetate had a 20-34% decrease in low mood compared to the placebo group.
The researchers believe the reason for this outcome lies in the effect of Apple Cider Vinegar on the metabolism of glycine and serine, two amino acids used to treat mental health conditions such as depression, suggesting that acetate is a promising treatment for such conditions.
Furthermore, alcohol withdrawal is known to cause low mood. Therefore, it is crucial to seek support from our Desistal team before deciding to begin detoxing from alcohol, as doing it alone could lead to health complications.
While acetate could be a potential treatment option for mental health conditions, it is essential to note that it is not a substitute for professional medical advice and treatment.
Apple Cider Vinegar and Gut Health
If you or someone close is going through natural alcohol detox, they will often experience stomach discomfort, including cramps and acid reflux. We are also likely to experience these symptoms in the stomach and bowel after a long drinking session.
Ethanoic acid presents the first benefit in the normal functioning of your gut. Ethanoic acid is found in vinegar. Vinegar is 4-6% acetic in water, which gives vinegar its pungent odour and taste.
Overall, studies suggest that Ethanoic acid is responsible for many gut health benefits by assisting in developing gut-promoting organisms that can contribute to a more efficient digestive system.
Ethanoic acid is known to reduce blood pressure, decrease inflammation, support weight loss and kill off harmful bacteria.
A further benefit of a better functioning gut is an improvement in the absorption and metabolism of sugars. The body’s ability to regulate and control sugar levels is linked to acetate, which gives us more energy at a time when we may be feeling listless and tired. Having that extra boost during withdrawal could give you the energy to do something else to keep your mind off alcohol and any symptoms you may have.
Why Take Detox Supplements?
Some consume Apple Cider Vinegar in its raw form straight from the bottle; many people use Apple Cider Vinegar in their cooking or add it to drinks first thing in the morning to promote gut health, but many people, including our clients, prefer to take Apple Cider Vinegar in pill form.
Withdrawing from alcohol can be a sensitive time for those recovering; many of them would rather skip the strong taste and odour of raw Apple Cider Vinegar, instead opting for the tasteless supplement that can often be advantageous as symptoms such as nausea from withdrawal can hinder your ability to consume Apple Cider Vinegar raw, decreasing your chances of a full recovery.
Opting for our all-in-one alcohol withdrawal supplement, which is odourless and tasteless, is an easier and more pleasant experience. At Desistal, we form a highly concentrated supplement in a small pill form that has the exact amount of ingredients you need to make withdrawing from alcohol that bit easier.
How Long Does It Take For Cravings to Disappear?
On average, it will take around ten days for the initial cravings from alcohol withdrawal to subside. It is crucial to bear in mind that this duration is an average duration so that it could last longer, depending on the body. If you are currently withdrawing from alcohol and are still experiencing cravings beyond the ten-day average, then please do not worry; cravings will subside eventually.
Despite initial cravings subsiding around ten days or so, you may experience post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) for several months.
What is Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome?
Post Withdrawal Syndrome is a group of common impairments experienced by those withdrawing from alcohol or drugs. The most common symptom of PAWS is difficulty with cognitive tasks, such as learning, problem-solving, or memory recall. Irritability. Feelings of anxiety or panic. If you are currently experiencing any symptoms of PAWS, then there are things you can do to alleviate them.
One way of improving your overall health is by looking at your diet and nutrition. Maintaining a healthy and balanced diet can help combat PAWS and enhance recovery. We can reduce the intensity of PAWS symptoms by eating at regular mealtimes, eating protein, complex carbohydrates, and dietary fibre-rich diets, and staying away from high-fat foods.
Making sure our diet increases our chances of recovery rather than hindering it is easier said than done. Still, it is worth developing a discipline around food, as studies suggest those who have poor eating habits are more likely to relapse.
A quick tip: Alcohol addiction can cause us to forget what it is like to be hungry, causing us to confuse hunger with cravings. If you are detoxing from alcohol and are experiencing intense cravings, it could be that you are hungry. Try eating a snack if you have any cravings for drugs or alcohol. It may help reduce your cravings. Also, your recovery must drink enough fluids, as dehydration is common in alcohol recovery. Ensuring you have enough water in your system could be the difference between travelling through recovery and struggling through recovery.
What Else Can I Do to Aid My Recovery?
Another way to enrich our bodies to help with recovery is by taking vitamins and mineral supplements. During the spell of drinking too much, our bodies are sapped of essential nutrients and require replenishment.
Supplements can help rejuvenate your body and restore it to a healthier state, especially if those supplements are designed to tackle alcohol recovery head-on. At Desistal, we have combined other ingredients such as Bacopa Monnieri, MCT Oil, and Apple Cider Vinegar, and we have created the ideal blend of ingredients for natural alcohol detox.
If you are interested in finding out more about our alcohol withdrawal supplement and how it can help ease your symptoms in recovery, please call our support team now.
We have decades of experience when it comes to addiction, and we are happy to inform you further about what we can do to help you recover from alcohol and begin a new life.
Sources
Does apple cider have other health benefits? Medically reviewed by Adrienne Seitz, MS, RD, LDN, Nutrition — By Franziska Spritzler — Updated on August 7, 2023 – https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/apple-cider-vinegar-weight-loss
Hydrogen-rich water for improvements of mood, anxiety, and autonomic nerve function in daily life – Kei Mizuno, Akihiro T. Sasaki, Kyoko Ebisu, Kanako Tajima, Osami Kajimoto, Junzo Nojima, Hirohiko Kuratsune, Hiroshi Hori, and Yasuyoshi Watanabe, M.D., PhD – Published online 2018 Jan 22 – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5806445/#:~:text=Hydrogen%20has%20antioxidant%20activity%20and,central%20and%20peripheral%20nervous%20systems.
Substance Use And Recovery Diet – Review Date 4/30/2022 – Updated by: Fred K. Berger, MD, addiction and forensic psychiatrist, Scripps Memorial Hospital, La Jolla, CA, also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team – https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002149.htm
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8622118/ Daily Vinegar Ingestion Improves Depression Scores and Alters the Metabolome in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial