Addiction recovery takes a lot of work and all that work can be a
drain on your physical health. You can take back your health with a few
lifestyle changes. Here are four healthy habits you can adopt to support your
recovery.
Healthy Habit 1: A Nutritious Diet
Eating well is one of the best ways to support your whole body’s
health. A proper diet will provide:
● Nutrients and supplements to support good physical and mental
health.
● The ability to select a menu that can reduce stress, such as foods
full of Omega-3. Try adding fatty fish like salmon to your diet once a week.
● Focus and engagement while learning to cook. You can boost your
confidence as your cooking skills improve.
● Boost your immune system and increase serotonin levels with a
naturally fermented probiotic like PRO EM•1®.
Explore different dietary styles. According to this article at Purple Carrot, a plant-based
diet may be helpful for recovering addicts. Ken Immer, a recovering meth addict
and former heavy drinker, believes his vegetarian diet helped him stick to
sobriety. He also claims it aided his healing process.
While there is no particular diet that people in recovery should
follow, experts
told U.S. News that good nutrition for recovering addicts should include
healthy proteins, like fish and lean meats, fresh produce, legumes, and whole
grain foods. It’s also important not to skip meals. Low blood sugar may spur
negative emotions and responses.
Healthy Habit 2: Exercise or Sports
A 2009 study showed that regular physical
activity “may help in preventing amphetamine addiction.” That is one of an increasing
number of studies convincing scientists that exercise can help treat addiction.
When you’re in recovery, it’s important to select an exercise
program that fits your needs and abilities. Choose
something that’s safe. A serious injury can require pain management and it’s
best to avoid that sort of risk.
There are many fun and engaging options to choose from:
basketball, jogging, bike riding, yoga, dance classes. Think about what piques
your interest and start investigating classes.
Talk to your doctor and your recovery team about integrating
fitness as part of your program before you start.
Healthy Habit 3: Meditation
Another great habit to support your recovery is meditation. Deep
breathing, mindfulness practices, and prayer can all serve to help lower stress
levels and boost both your body’s immunity and energy levels. Focused breathing
exercises can help with mental clarity, improved lung function, and relaxation.
Research also shows that, along with
exercise, these can help your body cleanse itself of chemical toxins that can
bring down your mood.
“Mindfulness” activities also positively impact your brain,
creating new pathways that empower you to leave old habits and addictions
behind. Adding a variety of these practices will help you get maintain
sobriety.
Healthy Habit 4: Positive Socialization
As part of your treatment, you’ll need to learn to socialize
without returning to substance use. That may mean creating new friendships and
finding peer support. Join self-helps groups that practice sobriety to learn
positive ways to socialize. The National
Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. has a comprehensive list of self-help groups for you to
consider.
If you struggle to find groups, ask your recovery team about
therapy animals. They are commonly very helpful in substance abuse
rehabilitation. You might even end up dog walking or adopting a therapy pet,
which can further support positive socialization. Learn more about pet therapy
from Dog Time.
These four healthy habits can help you on the road to recovery.
Remember, they are not a substitute for your addiction recovery program. They
supplement the therapies you are already involved with, allowing you to make
your best strides towards continued sobriety.
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