Exercise May Relieve Depression

Do you want to have more energy or perhaps even live longer? Are you excited to feel better? Look no further than exercise. The health benefits of regular exercise and physical activity are hard to ignore. The benefits of exercise are yours for the taking, regardless of your age, sex or physical ability. One of the best and less known benefit of exercise is that it can ease your depression and anxiety. Research has it that any amount of exercise, at any age, is beneficial. And, in general, the more you do, the greater the benefits. The National Academy of Sciences has recommended that everyone strive for a total of an hour per day of physical activity. Sounds like a lot, but the hour can be made up of several shorter bursts of activity done throughout the day. It can be done by simply walking, gardening, even heavy housecleaning. When you exercise, you burn calories, so the more you just get up and move, the more calories you will burn. It may further give your weight loss another push and you'll begin losing again. Moreover, exercise increases your metabolic rate. Research also shows that exercise, particularly in the morning, may help you sleep better. It is also known that exercising improves mood due to the chemicals it releases in the brain called endorphins. This gives you an overall feeling of well-being. Exercise further reduces the risk for several diseases including heart disease, adult-onset diabetes, high blood pressure or hypertension, breast cancer, osteoporosis and colon cancer. Exercise may also help prevent, or be effective in treating, some mental illnesses, such as depression. To sum up, below are some of the major benefits of exercise, based on a study from the Georgia State University.

• Reduce depression and anxiety
• Reduce the risk of premature death
• Reduce the risk of developing and/or dying from heart disease
• Reduce high blood pressure or the risk of developing high blood pressure
• Reduce high cholesterol or the risk of developing high cholesterol
• Reduce the risk of developing colon cancer and breast cancer
• Reduce the risk of developing diabetes
• Reduce or maintain body weight or body fat
• Build and maintain healthy muscles, bones, and joints
• Improve psychological well-being
• Enhanced work, recreation, and sport performance

The most important step in starting an exercise routine is exploring the idea of motivation. Here are some ideas from medical researchers to get you moving:

• Think of your exercise time as the only time you may get to yourself all day.
• Remind yourself how good you'll feel by following through.
• Promise yourself a reward for completing your workout.
• Think of all the diseases and illnesses your workout could protect you from.
• Remind yourself that this workout is necessary to reach your goal.
• Remind yourself of your weight loss goals.
• Think of a future event to get ready for.
• Consider how much energy you'll have to get more things done.
• Imagine how relaxed you'll feel after a workout.

As you can see, the list of health benefits from exercising is impressive. Lastly, it may also save you from the risks of the harmful side effects brought by certain antidepressants like Zoloft.