Nutritional aspects of alcoholism

If we want to understand what causes people to become alcoholic, it should be realized that alcohol is the end product of Sugar metabolism.
There are ten steps in glycolysis that convert Sugar (glucose) found in food to pyruvate. Normally pyruvate is converted to biological energy called Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) in the citric acid Cycle (Krebs Cycle). This energy is essential in the production of feel good neurotransmitters such as serotonin. Without that energy we may be come depressed. It is suspected that alcoholics have problems converting Sugar (glucose) into pyruvate. Hence are energy starved. When the brain senses energy starvation on which it depends entirely from minute to minute, it will trigger the release of adrenaline from the adrenal glands. Adrenaline functions to convert sugar stores in the body (glycogen stored in liver and muscles) back into glucose, so as to feed the brain with energy.

Now alcohol is an antidote to stress hormones such as adrenaline. Thus when an alcoholic withdraws from alcohol, the first thing he notices is extreme feeling of anxiety, shakes and trembles. He cannot sleep and has anxiety attacks out of the blue. He is energy starved and relies on adrenaline to feed the brain. One thing he can do is take GLYCERINE. One table spoon of glycerine mixed in a glass of water and a dash of lemonade (to improve taste). Glycerine is slowly converted to glucose via the liver and does not trigger the pancreas to secrete excess insulin. The insulin can bring down the sugar levels and start an other cycle of adrenaline production.

The ultimate solution to treating alcoholism is teaching the body of an alcoholic to produce energy from normal sugar source in his diet.

Most alcoholics are found to be hypoglycemic (a sugar handling problem) when tested with a medical test for hypoglycemia. (Not to be confused with a test for diabetes). Thus the post withdrawal period must be accompanied with a hypoglycemic diet, to allow the body to obtain its glucose sources from proteins rather than refined sugar.

For further information see:

“Alcoholism (Addiction) is a Treatable Disease” at:

http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/alcoholism_treatable.html
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