Sunday, December 21, 2008

Does exercise to make yourself feel better?

By June Bell

People are always being warned about the health benefits of exercising, mainly the improvement and maintenance of physical fitness and the prevention of heart disease, blood pressure illness, and diabetes. Countless others do not,while many of us happily comply. Irrespective of whether it is using the treadmill or short walk around the block, staying fit and healthy does not seem to be a driver for us to leave the comfort of the couch.

It's my belief that if more people knew how exercise can give them mental benefits, they'd start exercising more often. It is easier to convince a bored or lethargic person to participate in exercise for the benefits of their mood and emotions, than just for their physical health. Even though it doesn't make sense, this is how a person's mind works. Generally, if you are feeling low, you probably feel bad about yourself and maybe slightly hopeless you are not in the mood to take on physical challenges to realize the long-term goals of health and well-being.

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.

Research has shown that exercising exerts its effects on the brain in several ways, including something called neurogenesis the development of nerve tissue) and endorphin release, which is believed to enhance a persons mood. Your body warns of stress and pain through the release of endorphines from your pituitary gland. which is precisely what exercise means to many people. Sense they stop the transmission of pain signals going to the brain and give off the same feeling of euphoria, endorphins which are all said to be natural feel good chemicals. An improvement in the moods of patients experiencing depression who have been given Beta-endorphin injections has been reported by researchers. 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? Well, because the chemical structure of endorphins is similar to that of morphine and because, like morphine, they prevent you from feeling pain. Morphine and endorphins act upon the same brain receptors. Exercise not only releases endorphins throughout the body in the bloodstream you 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. - 15255

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