Page 17 - Winter2019

Today, we know a lot more about how alcohol affects the neurotrans- ism, including anxiety, depression, impulsive
mitters that determine our outlook and moods. This knowledge indicates behavior, irritability, low self-esteem, sleep
that vitamin B can indeed support the alcoholic in his recovery, but it is problems and post-traumatic stress disorder. The
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not the only nutrient that can help with the resolution of cravings. production of serotonin requires the amino acid
Recently, a number of therapists have looked at nutritional therapy tryptophan, vitamin D, iron, magnesium and
for alcoholism, including Julia Ross, author of The Craving Cure. calcium, vitamin C and B vitamins. Alcohol
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Preliminary studies indicate that a high-protein, high-fat diet, often in can temporarily raise serotonin levels, but at the
conjunction with vitamin or amino acid supplements, gives a success rate same time it depletes the nutrients (like B and
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of 70-80 percent, compared to about 20 percent for conventional therapy folate) needed to produce serotonin naturally.
and participation in AA. 2 Trauma can affect natural serotonin levels.
However, none of these therapies has focused on the principles of the For example, a 2009 study found that par-
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Wise Traditions diet, which contains unique foods that can help the body ticipants who had experienced childhood abuse
balance the various neurotransmitters and feel-good chemicals—without had lower brain serotonin transporter binding
drugs and perhaps even without supplements. potential than those who were not abused,
meaning that they had lower serotonin activity
NEUROTRANSMITTERS than needed to maintain a happy and optimistic
New research indicates that alcohol affects the levels of many mood. Other traumatic experiences, such as
hormones and neurotransmitters in the body and brain. Chief among the danger of war or loss of a job or loved one,
these are dopamine and cortisol—important stress-reducing, feel-good can be expected to trigger similar disruption of
chemicals. Alcohol can boost these neurotransmitters temporarily, but endogenous serotonin production.
often in ways that create imbalances and end up depressing our ability Let’s look at the components of the Wise
to form them naturally. Traditions diet to ascertain how they might help
It should come as no surprise to readers of Wise Traditions that the fat- the alcoholic discover that he doesn’t actually
soluble vitamins play an important role in the production and regulation of need to drink anymore.
dopamine and cortisol. The three key nutrients in this regard are the fatty
acid arachidonic acid and vitamins A and D. Our body makes endocan- COD LIVER OIL
nabinoids (feel-good, calming chemicals similar to those in marijuana) A naturally produced cod liver oil will
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out of arachidonic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid found in animal fats, liver provide natural vitamins A and D. Unlike other
and egg yolks—the very foods the medical establishment tells us not to dietary treatments for alcoholism, the Wise
eat. Vitamins A and D serve as key regulators for this process. From the Traditions diet always begins with a focus on
endocannabinoids, the body makes dopamine and cortisol, again with vitamin A, for two reasons. First, the lowfat,
the help of vitamin A. In a well-nourished individual, the body regulates high-carb diets that most Americans follow
the production of these compounds to relieve anxiety, lift the mood and can lead to widespread vitamin A deficiencies;
support motivation—that is, the kind of focused, goal-oriented behavior second, vitamin A is crucial to the formation of a
that creates true happiness and reduces the need for stimulants and drugs. variety of adrenal hormones that the body needs
Another key neurotransmitter affected by alcohol is serotonin. Low to deal with stress, including dopamine and
serotonin results in numerous conditions that can predispose to alcohol- cortisol. In addition to cortisol and dopamine,

WHAT IS THE WISE TRADITIONS DIET?
The pioneering work of Dr. Weston A. Price determined that the basic characteristic of optimal human diets was
nutrient density. The diets of healthy human beings—free of dental problems, degenerative disease and mental illness,
and highly resistant to infectious disease—contained minerals at levels at least four times higher than the American diet
of his day and fat-soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D and K ) at levels at least ten times greater than the American diet of
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his day. “Sacred” foods rich in these fat-soluble vitamins included liver and other organ meats; whole raw dairy foods,
especially butter, from ruminant animals on pasture; egg yolks from pastured poultry; animal fats; fish eggs; fish livers
and fish liver oil; and shellfish. In addition, preparation techniques such as fermentation, cooking of gelatinous bone
broth and long soaking and souring of grains transformed hard-to-digest foods into foods from which the nutrients were
readily available.
The Wise Traditions diet—one that incorporates these principles in modern times—should always serve as the
preliminary therapy for every type of health problem, including alcoholism.

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