Expert: Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist - 4/15/2010

Question
Re. the physical health effects of alcohol,my husband has a large distended belly which gets even worseafter one of his binge sessions.It is out of proportion to the rest of his body which is normal-not overly fat.
Thank God he doesnt binge often as he used to, but when it happens it takes weeks for his belly to go from being tight and big as a beachball  to just big and round again.
Is this a fairly common effect of over consumption of alcohol?
He is trying his best to stay sober,is attending AA, and he is also on weight watchers and jogging now. His belly has not shrunk however.
His doctor is at a loss to explain it except to say it wasnt cirrossis or ascites.
Losing it would do wonders for his mental health and appearance. But if he keeps working so hard without improvement I think he will get frustrated again and relapse.Thanks!

Answer
Hi Vanessa,

It is not uncommon for alcoholics to become over-weight, because alcohol is derived from the sugars. Most alcoholics are hypoglycemic, which means they have problems metabolising sugars into biological energy. Thus the unabsorbed sugars accumulate in the body as fat cells. This energy is essential in the conversion of food substances into feel good neurotransmitters such as serotonin. In the absence of that energy your husband is likely to feel depressed, that may drive him to consume alcohol.

It is the hypoglycemia that drives him to use alcohol, and if he wants to stop the cravings for alcohol, he needs to go on a strictly hypoglycemic diet.  Please read:

What is Hypoglycemia at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/what_is_hypo.html

The Serotonin Connection at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/serotonin_connection.html

Why Alcoholics Drink? at
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/WAD.html

Alcoholism (Addiction) is a Treatable Disease at:
http://curezone.com/upload/PDF/Articles/jurplesman/alcoholism_treatable.pdf

Drug Addiction is a Nutritional Disorder at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/drug_addictions_nutritional_disorder.htm...

Going on a Hypoglycemic Diet (search our web site) will often resolve the problem, but if it does not, please ask to be referred to a Nutritional Doctor, Clinical Nutritionist or a Nutritional Psychologist. Use our "Search our Web site" for more information about terms you enter in the search engine.

_______________________________________________
Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist
Hon. Editor of
The Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia.
www.hypoglycemia.asn.au
Author of "Getting off the Hook"
Freely available at Google Book Search
Skype: jurplesman