Page 19 - Winter2019

In the words of Brick, the famous alcoholic son of Big Daddy in Tennessee RAW ANIMAL FOODS
William’s play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, that pep-up becomes “dilatory.” People in traditional cultures consumed
Gelatin-rich bone broth provides a natural way to regulate dopamine, some animal foods raw, a practice that is rare
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bringing it up to a healthy level while preventing dopamine from becom- in modern cultures and especially in America.
ing too high (in which case we become manic). Bone broth also provides Raw animal foods provide our best source of
glutamic acid, which the body uses to vitamin B , necessary for the forma-
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produce GABA, the “calming” amino tion of the various neurotransmitters
acid often recommended in supplement TRYPTOPHAN affected by alcohol consumption. Al-
form by Julia Ross and others. coholics tend to be deficient in B , in
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A mug of genuine bone broth part because this vitamin is involved in
morning and evening can serve as the Fe, Mg, Ca, Vit D, clearing alcohol from the body through
alcoholic’s best friend, providing key Vit B6, Folate the liver.
nutrients for neurotransmitters and 5-HTP Vitamin B is rapidly destroyed by
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calming feel-good chemicals. However, heat but is fully intact in raw animal
beware of substitutes—broth made foods such as raw meat dishes like
from bouillon cubes, cheap soup made Vit C, Vit B6, steak tartare or carpaccio, or raw dairy
from powdered “bases,” broth in cans Zn, Mg products—raw milk, raw kefir, raw
or aseptic packaging and any processed yogurt and raw cheese. In addition to
food to which MSG in all its guises is SEROTONIN B , raw dairy foods provide calcium in
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added—in other words, all processed highly assimilable form, a mineral that
foods. MSG works very differently in is critical to the formation of serotonin
the body compared to the natural glutamic acid in real broth. and dopamine. The recovering alcoholic needs
By the way, another—and surprising—source of GABA besides to consume raw animal foods every day.
glutamic acid is putrescine, a stinky amino acid that occurs in fermented
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meat and fish products (popular in Asia) and stinky cheeses (popular LIVER
in Europe). Fermented cod liver oil also contains small amounts of Liver is the most nutrient-dense food in the
putrescine. human diet and provides a host of compounds

ALCOHOL’S COMPLEX EFFECTS

Because alcohol is a small molecule, it interacts with many neurotransmitter systems in the brain and nervous
system; this makes the action of alcohol more complex than that of large molecules such as opiates or amphetamines,
which tend to stimulate only one specific neurotransmitter.

GABA: gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the chief inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system.
Its principal role is reducing excitability. Alcohol affects the GABA system in a manner similar to valium, leading to
relaxation and drowsiness.
DOPAMINE: Alcohol is a particularly lethal toxin to the dopamine system, one that attaches itself to the dopamine
neurotransmitter and triggers compulsion.
ENDORPHINS: Alcohol affects the endorphin system in a manner similar to opiates, acting as a pain-killer and
giving an endorphin “high.”
GLUTAMATE: Alcohol’s effects on the glutamate system lead to staggering, slurred speech and memory blackouts.
NOREPINEPHRINE: Alcohol causes a release of norepinephrine (also known as noradrenalin) in the brain, which is
one reason why alcohol acts as a stimulant and not just as a depressant. As a stimulant, alcohol peps you up, but
as a depressant alcohol can trigger depression.
ADRENALINE: Alcohol causes the adrenal glands to release adrenaline. This is another reason why alcohol has
stimulant properties. The release of adrenaline stimulates the “fight or flight” response, which then calls for the
calming “rest and digest” adrenal cortex hormones. Constant stimulation of adrenaline—which happens in spades
when alcohol is combined with coffee—can lead to adrenal exhaustion.

WINTER 2019 Wise Traditions 17