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Voluntary Exercise Could Prove Effective as Alcohol Replacement

Is a love of the taste of alcohol the main reason for developing a dependency on the substance, or is it something a little more scientific? According to researchers at Kent State University, it has a lot to do with circadian rhythms and timing. When that timing is upset, an individual is more likely to develop a dependency on alcohol. If the timing is maintained and even regulated with exercise, alcohol intake is reduced.

For mammals, circadian timing is regulated through light, food intakes, social interactions and exercise. A recent study conducted at Kent State found that there is a positive relationship between exercise and a reduction in the amount of alcohol ingested. The circadian clock determines when we should eat, sleep, mate, etc. This timing and consolidation of the clock is disrupted by the intake of alcohol, especially when the substance is abused.

Alcoholism is often characterized by the consistent craving for the substance and an inability to function at a normal level without it. The presence of such dependence upsets the timing and consolidation of the daily circadian rhythms an individual will regularly experience. When alcohol is consistently abused, the individual may go to bed too early or too late, or may not sleep all night. He or she may also experience an unusual eating routine. The combination of challenges can lead to increased alcohol intake, especially as the individual consumes in an effort to fall asleep.

The impact can be so severe that an interruption in the circadian rhythm can be destructive for the individual and can create negative effects on the physical and emotional health of the individual. In studying the impact in the animal world – using hamsters – voluntary exercise has been show to be a powerful influence over the health of the brain, circadian rhythms and overall emotional wellbeing.

When animals are restricted from exercise, there was a significant stimulatory effect on the consumption of alcohol. In the process of this research, scientists tested for three things: the effect exercise had on the consumption of alcohol and water; the effect alcohol consumption had on wheel running in hamsters naïve to alcohol; and the influence constant light had on both consumption of alcohol and exercise. In the study, hamsters that ran more, consumed less alcohol.

Researchers participating in this study suggest that both alcohol intake and voluntary exercise represent two different types of behaviors that are inherently rewarding. The effects of these behaviors could substitute for one another, suggesting that exercise is an equitable substitute for alcohol and vice versa.
The key to the successful replacement of alcohol consumption with exercise is the fact that the exercise is voluntary. For those not driven to eliminate alcohol from their routine, introducing exercise may be a farfetched idea. Individuals who truly want to rid themselves of the dependence, however, can find multiple rewards in introducing a routine of physical fitness.