Tips for the first stage of quitting/abstaining

Be aware that drinking has a profound effect on your digestive system..many drinkers are deficient of vitamins(especially B complex) and minerals.

A lot of negative physical effects of boozing are caused by vitamins either destroyed or not being taken due to poor nutritional habits:

The list of B-complex vitamins include:

Vitamin B1 (thiamin) — Deficiencies trigger depression and irritability and can cause neurological and cardiac disorders
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) — In 1982, an article published in the British Journal of Psychiatry reported that every one of 172 successive patients admitted to a British psychiatric hospital for treatment for depression was deficient in B2
Vitamin B3 (niacin) — Depletion causes anxiety, depression, apprehension and fatigue
Pantothenic Acid — Symptoms of deficiency are fatigue, chronic stress and depression
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) — Deficiencies can disrupt the formation of neurotransmitters
Vitamin B12 — Deficiency will cause depression.
Folic Acid — Deficiency is a common cause of depression.
Deficiencies of other nutrients can also contribute to the negative feelings that frequently lead susceptible individuals toward another alcoholic beverage. These include:

Vitamin C — Continuing deficiency causes chronic depression and fatigue
Magnesium — Symptoms of deficiency include confusion, apathy, loss of appetite, weakness and insomnia
Calcium — Depletion effects the central nervous system
Zinc — Inadequacies result in apathy, lack of appetite and lethargy
Iron — Depression is often a symptom of chronic iron deficiency
Manganese — Necessary for proper use of the B-Complex vitamins and Vitamin C
Potassium — Depletion is frequently associated with depression, tearfulness, weakness and fatigue
Chromium — Enhances glucose uptake into cells. A deficiency can cause hypoglycemia
Omega 3 EFA — In adults, skin disorders and anemia develop as a consequence of EFA deficiency


Protein synthasis is also impacted and many drinkers are deficient in eletrolytes

It's important to help your body recover by supplementing with the above vitamins and minerals and making sure you hydrate adequatly by drinking lots of water and using something like dioralyte to replace blood salt levels.

As your aim is not to give up completely you should pay particular attention to your diet so that as your body returns to health you will actually feel LESS like drinking and more like being healthy.