As you continue your journey down the road to recovery, it is important to be aware of all of the steps you can take to make your recovery successful and long-lasting. Recovery from an addiction is more than just abstaining from a substance. Rather, it involves rebuilding and healing the mind and body. Maintaining good nutrition and a consistent exercise routine has the potential to play a major role in your recovery.
Addiction and long-term substance use can cause a lot of damage to the body. Malnutrition can occur, along with poor digestion, and a weakened immune system. Improving your nutrition can have a number of positive effects on the body:
Restoring Physical Health
A balanced diet that is filled with fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins can actually help rebuild damaged tissues and organs while strengthening the immune system. As a result of this, you may begin to experience higher energy levels along with better sleep quality.
Mood Stabilization and Less Cravings
By maintaining consistent nutrition habits such as those mentioned above, you may begin to see your mood become more stable. By eating balanced meals, you will be helping your body maintain stable blood sugar levels. This is important because mood stability will help you avoid those negative moods that could trigger you into having a relapse.
Brain Function is Improved
Commonly used substances such as alcohol and opioids affect the brain in a number of negative ways. Continued use can affect dopamine and serotonin levels in the brain, which can negatively affect your mood. By maintaining a healthy nutritious lifestyle, such as consuming omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins and amino acids, you will be supporting brain health.
Now let’s talk about the role of exercise. Both nutrition and exercise play a key role in your health and wellbeing. Regularly exercising offers many benefits both physically and mentally that can help you on your journey to recovery.
Mental Health Improves
Exercise can increase endorphins which are the brain’s “feel good” chemicals. This is why after a strong exercise session, we tend to feel pleasant and happy. The release of these endorphins can mimic the high of substances, but in a healthy way. Consistent exercising has been shown to help lessen feelings of anxiety and depression.
Less Cravings
By consistently exercising and staying active, you may begin to feel less cravings for substances. Exercise acts as a distraction, and it helps regulate the brain’s reward system. Overall, exercising tends to improve our moods, therefore reducing the negative feelings that may previously have caused a relapse.
Improved Sleep
Exercising consistently has shown to have benefits for one’s sleep. Physical activity helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle. This makes it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep. This is key because during the recovery process, you may experience insomnia or fatigue. Exercising helps reduce those issues.
Victory Recovery Partners, a network of eight addiction-recovery centers on Long Island, New York, offers outpatient services to patients with substance use disorders and addictions. By providing complete care under one roof, we ensure that every patient is cared for, and no one is left behind. For more information, please visit our website.