3 supplements to take if you drink alcohol, according to an American doctor

Alcohol plays a huge role in the social lives of millions around the world. From celebratory toasts to casual happy hours, drinking is often part of how people connect, unwind, and mark life’s moments. According to Gallup’s 2023 survey, 62% of American adults report that they drink alcohol, a number that has remained relatively stable over the past two decades. While moderate alcohol consumption is culturally normalized, it is proven that no level of alcohol consumption is safe for human health.
Alcohol is a neurotoxin. It affects nearly every organ in the body and can accelerate aging, disrupt sleep, weaken immune function, and impair cognitive performance. Most notably, it has direct, damaging effects on the brain, particularly when consumed regularly or in large quantities. That said, people are increasingly looking for ways to be more intentional about their drinking habits. For those who choose to drink, the question becomes: how can you support your body and brain to minimize some of the potential harms?

Credit: Instagram/@robertwblove

Robert Love, a neuroscientist who helps people prevent Alzheimer’s disease using science-based strategies, offers a practical perspective. In a recent video posted to his Instagram account, Love reflects on his own relationship with alcohol during his undergraduate and graduate school years. He admits that he drank quite a lot during that time, despite knowing the risks. “Alcohol is not good for the brain,” he says. “But if you are going to drink alcohol, there are some supplements you can take to help reduce the damage it’s going to do to your brain and body.”

Here are three supplements he recommends:

Activated Charcoal

According to Robert Love, activated charcoal—thanks to its high carbon content—can bind to alcohol present in the stomach, potentially helping to reduce how much alcohol is absorbed into the body. He recommends taking activated charcoal at any point in the drinking process—before, during, or even after consuming alcohol—as a way to support the body in limiting alcohol’s harmful effects.

Activated charcoal can be added to a variety of food items, but Love suggests using activated charcoal, which is derived from coconut shells, through a chemical-free steam activation process. This method not only ensures purity but also maximizes the charcoal’s porous surface area, making it more effective at trapping toxins and unwanted substances.
While often found in capsule or powder form, activated charcoal has also gained popularity in wellness drinks, juices, and even trendy desserts like charcoal ice cream and black lattes.

Selenium

Selenium is especially important when it comes to detoxing the body and mind after a night of drinking, according to Dr. Robert Love. This essential trace mineral plays a critical role in the body’s antioxidant defense system and is especially valuable during times of oxidative stress, such as after alcohol consumption. One of selenium’s most important functions is its role in producing glutathione peroxidase (G-Px), a key enzyme that helps neutralize harmful free radicals generated during the breakdown of alcohol in the liver.

In addition, selenium works in synergy with vitamin E to protect cell membranes and internal organelles from damage caused by oxidative stress. Since alcohol is known to increase this stress, particularly in the brain and liver, adequate selenium levels can help buffer the impact and support the body’s natural detoxification processes.
However, Dr. Love emphasizes that only a small amount is needed. Selenium is effective in low doses, and taking too much can be harmful.

L-Tyrosine and lion’s mane

According to Dr. Robert Love, combining L-Tyrosine and Lion’s Mane can make drinking less alcohol not only easier—but actually more enjoyable. L-Tyrosine is an amino acid that serves as a precursor to dopamine, the “feel-good” neurotransmitter associated with focus, motivation, memory, and a positive mood.

It’s the same chemical spike that substances like caffeine—and even cocaine—trigger, which is why humans naturally gravitate toward things that boost dopamine. In fact, caffeine is one of the most widely used dopamine enhancers in the world. Supplementing with L-Tyrosine can support mental clarity and lift your mood, helping you stay sharp and socially engaged even if you’re drinking less. It plays a key role in the production of dopamine and other neurotransmitters that regulate focus and motivation. This makes it especially helpful during periods of stress, fatigue, or lifestyle changes like cutting back on alcohol.
Paired with Lion’s Mane, a powerful medicinal mushroom known for its brain-boosting properties, the result is a calmer, more connected experience. Lion’s Mane helps reduce stress and anxiety, supports neuroplasticity, and has even been shown to stimulate the growth of new brain cells. Dr. Love suggests this combination can actually enhance the social and mood-lifting effects of drinking, allowing you to have more fun with less alcohol—and feel better the next day, too.
It is worth noting that no amount of alcohol is safe. The World Health Organisation emphasizes that “No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health.”
“We cannot talk about a so-called safe level of alcohol use. It doesn’t matter how much you drink – the risk to the drinker’s health starts from the first drop of any alcoholic beverage,” Dr Carina Ferreira-Borges, acting Unit Lead for Noncommunicable Disease Management and Regional Advisor for Alcohol and Illicit Drugs in the WHO Regional Office for Europe notes.
“Potential protective effects of alcohol consumption, suggested by some studies, are tightly connected with the comparison groups chosen and the statistical methods used, and may not consider other relevant factors”, Dr Jürgen Rehm, member of the WHO clarifies.