Exercise Reduces Addiction Withdrawal by Up To 50%.

In 2023, Hao Li and a team from China reviewed 22 randomized trials with 1,537 people battling substance use disorder. They explored how light, moderate, and high-intensity workouts like walking, jogging, or weight lifting reduce withdrawal symptoms such as cravings, depression, anxiety, and insomnia during detox.

All exercise types cut cravings by 30-40% and depression by 20-30%, with moderate exercise reducing depression by up to 45% and anxiety by 25-35%. High-intensity workouts helped insomnia by 40-50%. Exercise boosts brain chemicals like BDNF (up 20-30%) and dopamine, lowering relapse risk.

Add light to moderate exercise like walking or jogging during recovery to ease withdrawal symptoms.