Eating healthy, exercise, and drug addiction may seem like an odd combination. Recent studies show that exercise could decrease substance abuse and reinforce abstinence, while healthy eating may increase mood and long-term recovery. Exercising while using drugs is not recommended and could be very dangerous due to increased or decreased heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration. Since many drugs and withdrawal often deplete your body of nutrients, leave you dehydrated and create electrolyte imbalances in your body, exercise should always be discussed with your treatment team at Midwest Recovery Center to ensure safety.
Exercise and Drug Addiction
A recent study on exercise and drug addiction found that a group of thirty-eight people suffering from opioids, cocaine, or cannabis use disorder that exercised three times per week for six months were more likely to commit to abstinence from drugs. Out of these thirty-eight people, fifteen reported abstinence or decreased use. Exercise and drug addiction coupled with the proper therapy, healthy habits, community support, and a 12-step program could be used in a person’s early recovery to help distract them from intense cravings.
At Midwest Recovery Center, we provide patients with various wellness services, including on-site visits from yoga teachers and exercise instructors. Patients all have access to group exercise classes and can use their local gym or fitness facility. During our partial hospitalization program or PHP, we offer catered lunches to ensure healthy options are available. Case managers also help our patients learn about nutrition and help patients map out healthy grocery lists. Exercise can give people in early recovery from drug addiction a natural high. Exercise “highs” happen when the brain releases endorphins after vigorous exercises such as running or HIIT.
Eating Healthier Improves Recovery
Exercise is not the only way you can better your health when entering recovery for drug or alcohol addiction. Learning to eat healthier, balanced meals is one thing you can utilize in early recovery to curb cravings and create a healthier lifestyle. Simultaneously, it also helps repair organ tissue, fighting depression, and increasing depleted serotonin caused by drug or alcohol misuse.
People who misuse alcohol get fifty percent of their daily calories from alcohol consumption, leaving their body at high risk of vitamin deficiencies such as calcium, zinc, malnutrition, and a weakened immune system. Omega 3-fatty acids are found in salmon, walnuts, and chia seeds and are proven to improve depressive symptoms and even aid the effects of anti-depressants. When people enter early recovery, they often substitute sugar or caffeine for drugs or alcohol, leading to other health problems. The extra consumption of sugar or caffeine may be linked to more intense drug or alcohol-related cravings. Alcohol turns to sugar once it is in the body, so many people recovering from alcohol addiction crave sugar. However, when you give in to this craving, again and again, it does not give your body the time to heal. Sugar may cause your mind and body to crave alcohol, leading to irritability, anxiety, and depression.
Learning To Live Healthier: The Midwest Recovery Center Difference
Regardless of whether you misused alcohol or drugs, your health and recovery need to eat a complex diet made up of carbs, protein, calcium-rich foods, healthy fats, and plenty of water. It is proven that a healthy diet can improve your recovery and your brain function. At Midwest Recovery Center, a case manager will help you plan grocery lists to help in your addiction recovery and exercise classes such as yoga and gym memberships for our PHP patients. Our goal is to promote your recovery and improve your mood, mind, spirit, and body. Reach out to us today at 833.627.0039 to learn more.
