Monday, December 29, 2008

If you need to Improve your mood, why not try exercising?

By June Bell

We are endlessly being encouraged to exercise in order to improve and maintain our physical fitness levels and to ward off diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes. Some of us go along happy, many do not. Health and fitness do not seem to provide sufficient incentive to get us off the couch and unto the treadmill, into the pool - or even into a pair of sneakers to walk around the block,for some reason.

I believe that if more emphasis were placed on the mental benefits of exercising, more people would exercise. If you tell someone that doing a little bit of exercise might improve their well-being, said person might be more willing to actually exercise in order to improve mood, fitness, and health. While this is not logical, it is the way peoples minds work. It is likely that when you are not feeling good about yourself, you are not motivated to take on any long term physical challenges and goals.

In order to help someone's mood, it is much simpler to get them to exercise. About ten minutes of moderate exercise will have a positive effect on a persons mental state, putting them in a better mood, making them feel more energetic and less tired. In all due reality, you do not really think you can achieve the traditional benefits of exercise (exercise along with healthiness) it's necessary to engage in regular, moderate exercise for at least half an hour daily, usually forever, since ceasing to exercise altogether is not good for your health or physical well-being.

Scientists have found that doing exercise can impact the brain in many ways, for example through neurogenesis. how nerve tissue begins as well as the release of endorphins - chemicals which make people's moods improve. The pituitary gland releases hormones which are called endorphins when stress or pain is experienced. which is exactly what exercise is to some of us. Endorphins send a message to the brain that blocks pain and promotes feelings of euphoria. Researchers have reported that Beta-endorphin injections improve the moods of depressed patients. Serotonin, adrenaline and dopamine, which are all released by your body when you perform exercises, these all work together so that you naturally boost your mood - almost instantly.

"Endorphin" literally refers to morphine that the human body manufactures. For what reason? The molecular composition of endorphins is comparable to that of morphine, meaning that both can help to relieve pain. The Brain receptors that react to endorphins also react to Morphine. Exercise doesn't just cause the release of endorphins in the body located within the bloodstreamyou will find that you have had a significant reduction in cortisol, tension and anxiety as a result.

The most significant thing is that it's not necessary to spend large amounts of time exercising. A moderate amount of exercise will significantly improve your mood. In addition to these natural chemical processes, exercise can, of course, improve your self-image, boost your confidence and distract you from everyday worries, making you a happier person on the long run.

Switch of the television and go for a quick walk. When you are finished you will find that you feel a lot better and will probably try it again soon. You may even get to the point where your exercise will improve your physical well-being along with your all-important mental well-being. - 16003

About the Author: