How to Stop Alcohol Cravings Naturally: 5 Simple Tips

According to the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 14.4 million adults reported having alcohol abuse disorder.

Alcohol use can affect behavior and physical health. Excessive use of alcohol can increase the risk of having severe negative long-term health effects like liver disease, cancer, pancreatitis, stomach issues, and more.

If you’re concerned about yours or someone you love’s alcohol use, you’ve come to a good place. We’re going to discuss how to stop alcohol cravings naturally.

The process isn’t going to be easy, but it’s absolutely possible to do it. You’re not alone. Read on to find out about stopping alcohol cravings and moving forward to a healthier life.

Is It an Addiction?

The following are alcohol addiction symptoms:

• A compulsion to drink, or need to drink more
• Increased tolerance
• Nausea, vomiting, or headaches while not drinking
• Lack of control

If you or a loved one show signs of alcohol abuse disorder, you should consider seeking professional help. Quitting drinking is an essential step to getting healthy, but it can be fatal if someone doesn’t detox correctly.

5 Tips on How to Stop Alcohol Cravings Naturally

Stopping your alcohol cravings isn’t going to be simple, but there are steps you can take to make the process easier for you.

1. Evaluate Triggers

Take a moment to figure out what triggers you, both internally and externally. Evaluating your triggers may help you curb your cravings.

Do you have trauma that you long to forget or feel the need to drink whenever you see people having fun at a bar? Whatever it is that causes you to drink, examine it closely.

2. Face Triggers

Once you’ve figured out what your triggers are, its a matter of conquering them. This won’t be easy, and professional mental health assistance may be helpful.

For some, therapy would be a good route to go to discuss internal triggers and why you feel compelled to drink. Getting to the core of issues can be a huge release.

As for external triggers, some can be avoided. If you can’t have a bottle of wine in the house without drinking it all, try not to bring wine into the home. The idea is simple, but the practice of it will take a lot of hard work.

3. Dietary Changes

You can make changes to your diet that will help you not crave alcohol because adopting a healthy diet with foods that curb cravings for alcohol is vital to get the body back in balance and help you fight the urge to drink.

Take simple steps to maintain blood sugar, as low blood sugar can increase alcohol cravings.

You should choose complex carbohydrates instead of simple ones. These include foods rich in fiber like whole grains and will help regulate blood sugar levels.

Take vitamins and eat more fruits and vegetables to help replenish any nutrients lost while drinking.

4. Find Support

You don’t need to do this alone. Turn to your friends and family. Find support that is going to be a positive influence.

If you feel that you have no one in your immediate life that can help you, look for a local support group or meeting that you can attend.

If you’ve been drinking for a long time, you should absolutely consider having professional medical help during your withdrawal. A withdrawal can be potentially life-threatening in some individuals, and a medical team can help control withdrawal symptoms.

5. Set Realistic Goals

You know yourself the best. Setting realistic goals can help you naturally reduce the cravings.

Set small target goals for drinks per day or decide you won’t drink on Thursdays to start. If you decide to go cold turkey, please talk to your doctor as an improper detox can be fatal.

It Is Okay to Need Help

We’ve covered how to stop cravings naturally, but it is okay if you can’t kick the habit alone. If you need help, don’t be afraid to ask your support or medical professionals.

Are you looking for more blog articles like this one? Check out the rest of our page.