Eating well is important for everyone, but particularly important for those people whose digestive system efficacy is currently or has been compromised, for example by excess alcohol consumption.

Wernicke-Korsakoff’s Syndrome is caused primarily by a lack of Vitamin B1 – thiamine – often as a result of self-neglect and poor dietary choices. Thiamine is an essential and very beneficial vitamin for our health. It is required to metabolise sugars for energy, which our cells can use to perform a wide array of biological functions. Thiamine is a colourless crystalline solid substance which can easily dissolve in water. It is part of a group of B vitamins, all of which are soluble in water.

Because of its solubility in water, thiamine is difficult to store in human body. Whenever there is an excess of thiamine in our body, it is flushed out of the system via urine. It is therefore necessary to maintain a continuous supply of thiamine for our body daily. Foods rich in thiamine or vitamin supplements can help fulfil this requirement.

List of Foods Rich in Thiamine

• Yeast
• Yeast extract
• Pork
• Dried milk
• Eggs
• Enriched flour
• Lean meats
• Beans
• Nuts
• Peas
• Oatmeal
• Brown rice
• Sunflower seeds
• Potatoes
• Oranges
• Asparagus
• Bananas

Yeast and pork contain larger concentrations of thiamine as compared to other sources of thiamine.

Thiamine is added to white flour in the UK and has been since WW2.

For guidance on maintaining a healthy diet, have a look at these links. Please note, we are not linked to these organisations and take no responsibility for the content.

All about thiamine from the people at Seven Seas vitamins: https://www.seven-seas.com/en_GB/articles/all-you-need-to-know-about-thiamin-vitamin-b1.html

The Eatwell Guide from the NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/the-eatwell-guide/

Electrolytes are also important – a BBC Good Food guide to minerals here: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/vital-minerals

Also see the Government recommendations for energy and nutrients for males and females aged 1–18 years and 19+ years: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/618167/government_dietary_recommendations.pdf

Here at the Upstreet Project, people are supported through Client Development sessions to learn more about diet and nutrition and are expected to start to take more responsibility for their own health and wellness.

Many of the people we support are encouraged, coached, enabled and supported to prepare their own meals from scratch. Everyone is encouraged to take part in meal preparation, even if he or she is not currently fully responsible for his or her own nutrition.

Our cook and kitchen assistant make a delicious variety of meals from scratch each week and cater for a wide range of dietary special needs and requirements as well as religious, ethnic and lifestyle preferences. We use a local butcher and local greengrocer and buy all our meat and vegetables in fresh every week.

To find out more about how we support people with ARBD to regain responsibility for their lives and rebuild healthier habits, click here.