How does exercise help my mental health? Exercise causes your brain to release 'feel good' chemicals like endorphins and serotonin that help improve your mood. It also improves your fitness, which can help lift your mood. Doing physical activity can also distract you from negative thought patterns.
Studies show that there is approximately a 20% to 30% lower risk of depression and dementia for adults participating in daily physical activity. Physical activity also seems to reduce the likelihood of experiencing cognitive decline in people who do not have dementia.
The mental benefits of aerobic exercise have a neurochemical basis. Exercise reduces levels of the body's stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol. It also stimulates the production of endorphins, chemicals in the brain that are the body's natural painkillers and mood elevators.
When you do any type of intense physical activity, it causes blood to flow to the brain. This in turn fires up your neurones and promotes cell growth, particularly in the hippocampus. This means that just 20 minutes of exercise before studying can improve your concentration and help you focus your learning.
Researchers found that sleep problems, a lack of energy, and physical inactivity may lead to a depressed mood and mood changes. The findings reverse conventional wisdom that depression leads to physical inactivity and show that the opposite may be true.
In the short-term, exercise has been shown to enhance our mood and influence our minds toward adopting more positive thoughts. In the long-term, physical exercise can improve our confidence by making us feel good about our physique and abilities.
Research shows that physical activity can also boost self-esteem, mood, sleep quality and energy, as well as reducing your risk of stress, clinical depression, dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
One of the biggest social benefits of exercise is just that – an improved social life. Especially if you participate in team sports or exercise with a group, you'll develop greater empathy and social skills. You'll also make new friends and gain new social outlets.
Physical injuries can lead to mental health issues, and vice versa. Physical activity can bring health benefits including elevated mood and reduced stress; and healthy eating also can improve mental health. Good physical health leaves a personal feeling better in the long term.
As soon as you start exercising your body will respond by stimulating and inhibiting physiological processes that will allow you to exercise more efficiently. For example, your cardio-respiratory system increases its activity above what it would be at rest, whereas the digestive system slows right down.
But, as she explains, getting out and doing a healthy activity like running can boost our mood and energy (hello, endorphins), which then inspires positive self-talk that encourages us to make another healthy choice (e.g., getting a salad at lunch or taking a walk instead of watching TV).
A positive body image contributes to enhanced psychological adjustment (less depression, positive self-worth, life satisfaction, less interpersonal anxiety, fewer eating disorders). Distortions in our thinking contribute to a negative body image.
The endorphin hypothesis predicts that exercise has a positive effect on depression due to an increased release of β-endorphins following exercise. Endorphins are related to a positive mood and an overall enhanced sense of well-being.
Exercise feeds the brain
An increase in blood flow is not only extremely beneficial, it is essential. Exercise induces good blood flow to deliver all the nutrients required to carry out the brain's job, while it also increases production molecules important to brain function, including memory.
Physical activity is not only good for your body, but it's also great for your mind. Being active releases chemicals in your brain that make you feel good - boosting your self-esteem and helping you concentrate as well as sleep well and feel better.
Brain biology and growth
Working out regularly really does change the brain biology, and it is not just “go walk and you will just feel better.” Regular exercise, especially cardio, does change the brain. Contrary to what some may think, the brain is a very plastic organ.
Regular physical activity will increase the development of hormones that make you feel happier and help you sleep better. Whether you practice a specific sport or hit the gym every day, exercising one hour a day will inevitably improve your health and life in many ways.
Exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Exercise prevents health problems, builds strength, boosts energy, and can help you reduce stress. It can also help you maintain a healthy body weight and curb your appetite.