A 2006 study by the American National Institute of Health found evidence to suggest that there is a positive correlation between increased alcohol consumption and unhealthy eating habits. People who ate unhealthy diets were more likely to be heavy drinkers than those who paid attention to eating healthily. It suggests that not only should a treatment program in an alcohol rehab provide a sound nutritional diet, but also that they should teach patients to eat healthily once they leave the treatment facility.

It has been noticed that people who consume alcohol show an increased desire to take in carbohydrates and a decreased intake of protein. If this pattern is maintained the drinker will gain weight and suffer from a nutritional deficit. The reasons for drinkers following this dietary pattern are not yet fully understood.

Alcohol has about 9000 calories per gram. The body is unable to metabolize these calories into nutrients but still feels satiated because it is not identifying the calories being taken in. The drinker will experience less hunger and so won't eat proper nutritional food. This results in the nutritional needs of the alcohol consumer not being met.

Not only does alcohol provide no nutrients it can actively interfere with the bodies ability to metabolize proper food. Alcohol has a negative effect on the general functioning of the gastrointestinal system and can reduce its ability to absorb nutrients. Alcohol also prevents certain vitamins from being absorbed which can result in severe consequences for the drinker.

Long term alcohol abuse can damage a number of internal organs such as the liver, heart, and kidneys. It has also been linked to certain types of cancer, birth defects, and brain damage.

Of course just because there is a correlation between poor eating habits and alcohol abuse we can't assume that one causes the other. Alcoholism is an illness with far reaching consequences and a comprehensive alcohol rehab program will need to address a wide range of behavioural changes. We can safely say that eating habits should be at least part of this program. Not only will a healthy diet help to start repairing the damage that drinking has created but might also improve the chances of maintaining long term recovery.

American studies examined substance abuse centers that provided a sound nutritional program that offered patients a chance to learn how to eat healthily. Such alcohol rehab facilities showed an improved rate of success compared to alcohol rehab centers that offered no nutritional counseling. Of course, substance abuse treatment clinics that offer nutritional counseling are also more likely to offer a wide range of ancillary treatments which no doubt contributes to their success rate.

A comprehensive alcohol treatment program will help clients to address all of the areas of his/her life that sustain the disease of alcoholism. Eating healthily and taking care of oneself is just one set of skills that an alcohol rehab center in South Africa will teach. This helps the alcoholic to make behavioural changes that reflect the far-reaching consequences that alcoholism has had on his/her life.