In particular, alcohol abuse can create a shortage of folate, thiamine, magnesium, zinc, and phosphate. Alcohol causes inflammation in the lining of your stomach, causing bloat and other digestive issues. By your second week, your gut will begin to heal, and many of these issues will start to subside. You may notice less heartburn, gassiness, bloating and stomach pain, and your bowel movements may become more normal. After two weeks without alcohol, the benefits will start to compound. You will probably be well out of withdrawal and mostly recovered from the ordeal. In the First 8 Hours In a heavy, long-term drinker, the brain is almost continually exposed to the depressant effect of alcohol. Over time, the brain adjusts its own chemistry to compensate for…