Can exercise replace alcohol cravings?

Summary

Are you struggling with alcohol cravings? Do you know someone who is? Researchers have discovered a possible solution to this problem - exercise. In a recent podcast episode titled "Can exercise replace alcohol cravings?" Dr. Rhonda Patrick lays out the relationship between exercise, addiction, and a hormone called fgf21.

The podcast episode reveals the results of a study that found that giving fgf21 as a drug reduced alcohol consumption in mice and vervet monkeys addicted to alcohol. This hormone is believed to tell our brains whether we should drink more alcohol or not. Exercise can increase levels of fgf21, which can bind to receptors in the hypothalamus and alter dopamine signaling. Dopamine is used in reward pathways in the brain that contribute to alcohol-seeking behavior.

The results of a small randomized crossover trial found that fgf21 levels were elevated 15 minutes after exercise in healthy, active young men who participated in biking or resistance training. Another study found an increase in fgf21 after both aerobic exercise and resistance training. This suggests that exercise, particularly vigorous aerobic exercise, could play a role in helping treat alcohol abuse disorders and potentially other substance abuse disorders.

Although fgf21 plays only a small part in the story of exercise and addiction, the results of these studies are promising. Exercise frequently and vigorously offers enormous benefits for the brain and behavior. Researchers have found that exercise can help treat addiction by acting on hormones and other neurotransmitters involved in mechanisms of addiction.

If you are struggling with alcohol addiction or know someone who is, adding regular exercise to your routine may be a solution worth trying. While this won't be a magic bullet solution, it is certainly a step in the right direction towards living a healthier, happier life free from addiction.