The recovery process for heroin addiction is far from easy, but it is still important to introduce healthy eating and proper exercise during this process. These lifestyle changes can help the person suffering with addiction through their treatment and continue successfully down their road to sobriety.
A patient’s newfound sobriety can magnify poor eating behaviors. Often those suffering from addiction became addicted as teenagers and never learned how to have a healthy relationship with food making healthy choices even more difficult.
Cravings in Early Stages of Recovery
Most people in the early stages of recovery are just trying to adjust to life without drugs and get through the immediate crisis of their addiction. During this time, they may have food cravings similar to a juvenile. This is often because of their chronic exposure to addictive substances. They want their food to be highly rewarding to the brain and prefer foods like:
- Candy
- Juice
- Cereal
- Energy Drinks
- Caffeine
- Ice Cream
- Chips and snacks
Increasing the Chances of Relapse
These poor eating habits can increase the chance for relapse. Bad food choices can lead to other bad decisions. Early in the recovery process, patients can struggle with understanding the difference between hunger craving and drug cravings. They might have forgotten what is feels like to simply be hungry. Because of this, foods that are healthy and filling are the best choices.
Better Food Options for Recovering Addicts
Vital nutrients are needed to heal the body after addiction. Plus, the right foods can reduce cravings for drugs and also lower anxiety and depression that can be associated with the first year of recovery. Instead of candy and snacks, those in recovery should be encouraged to eat:
- Animal and plant protein
- Fiber
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Dairy
- Antioxidants
- Vitamins
- Minerals
Benefits of Exercise During Heroin Recovery
Those struggling with heroin addiction have most likely been neglecting important parts of daily health like exercise. Because of the many benefits that physical activity provides, those in heroin treatment should be exercising for many reasons:
- Exercise relieves and reduces stress
- Exercise naturally and positively alters your brain chemistry
- Exercise has been called: “meditation in motion”
- Exercise improves your outlook on life
Popular Exercises for Heroin Addiction Recovery
- Yoga
- Hiking/Walking
- Strength Training
- Team Sports
Learning Healthy Living Techniques During Recovery
Because addiction can change the way the brain functions and depletes nutrients from the body, reintroducing healthy lifestyle habits aids the body’s healing process. Holistic heroin addiction treatment that includes exercise, healthy eating and more is key to the entire process and will help heal body, mind and spirit. Contact us now to find out more about our individual treatment programs.
