Most of you would agree that exercise makes us feel better in the short term. This is because exercise helps to release endorphins and enkephalins which are the body’s ‘feel good’ hormones. The positive feelings and thoughts that arise from exercise can help you to avoid damaging self-talk and negative contemplations.
Exercise increases the blood flow and delivery of oxygen and other nutrients to the brain. This helps to increase ‘neurogenesis’. Neurogenesis is a process where new brain cells are created, which helps to improve brain functioning and performance. Exercise also helps to strengthen and grow the hippocampus, the part of the brain that controls memory and learning. Therefore, regular exercise will help to keep your brain strong and fresh, and allow it to work at a higher capacity than it would for someone that is physically inactive.
Exercise also has many other mood-related benefits:
- Decreased Stress
- Social bonding
- Improved Sleep
- Increased confidence
Exercise also has many benefits beyond the short term mental health impacts. Studies have shown that regular exercise can reduce the likelihood of developing mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, and even other cognitive impairment conditions such as Dementia, Alzheimer’s and Schizophrenia in the long term.
For more information on exercising for improved mental health please contact Inspire Fitness for Wellbeing on 9857 3007 to speak to one of our Exercise Physiologists or Personal Trainers today.
References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3041121/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/what-works-and-why/201803/why-exercise-is-so-essential-mental-health
https://www.waldenu.edu/bachelors/bs-in-psychology/resource/five-mental-benefits-of-exercise
https://www.thesleepdoctor.com/2017/05/22/benefits-exercise-sleep/
https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/related-illnesses/other-related-conditions/stress/physical-activity-reduces-st