Mood Altering Exercise
Exercise enhances the brain, one’s mood and mental clarity.
Did you know that exercise creates mental alertness, a sharper mind and the ability to learn? Not only that, but exercise is a powerful anti-depressant.
We are all aware of the benefits attributed to exercising, and there are many, but let’s look closer at how exercise affects the brain. Numerous studies have been conducted on the effects of exercise on the brain and one’s mood. Research suggests it doesn’t even have to be a highly intense bout of activity to stimulate the chemicals associated with altering your mood and mental alertness. Movement as simple as a brisk walk can deliver a powerful dose of mind-altering hormones to the brain.
Studies show that you can remain in an altered state for up to four hours from a single bout of light to moderate exercise such as walking, bike-riding or swimming. John J. Ratey, MD., associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, suggests eight to ten minutes of mild exercise (60% of maximum heart rate) to enhance learning ability. As a matter of fact, researchers at Duke University Medical Center found that an aerobic exercise program decreased depression and improved the cognitive abilities of middle-aged and elderly men and women.
They followed 156 patients between 50 and 77 years old who had been diagnosed with major depressive disorder. They were assigned to one of three groups: exercise, medication, or both medication and exercise. The exercise group spent 30 minutes doing aerobics three times a week. After 16 weeks, all three groups showed statistically significant and identical improvement in standard measurements of depression, implying exercise was just as effective as medication in treating major depression.
Researchers at the University of California at San Francisco measured the brain function of nearly 6,000 elderly women during an eight-year period. The results were correlated with the women's normal activity level, including their routine walking and stair-climbing. Those who walked regularly were less likely to experience age-related memory loss and other declines in mental function. It was also determined that those who walked more gained more benefit, but all who walked gained positive results. Chief of Geriatric Psychiatry at the San Francisco Veterans Administration Medical Center Kristine Yaffe, MD stated: “you don't need to be running marathons, a little is good but more is better."
These studies show that exercise not only improves physical fitness, but mental wellness also. So remember: a good workout enhances you from head to toe.
"Persistance is a strong will. Obstinacy is a strong won't." – Anonymous
