There are many benefits of exercise that go beyond physical fitness. Exercising consistently can improve your skin’s complexion, fight off diseases, increase brain function, help fight addiction and improve your memory.
For those who suffer from mental disabilities such as depression, exercise can be an answer. Studies show that consistent exercise can help treat clinical depression.
“The link between exercise and mood is pretty strong,” Michael Otto, professor of psychology at Boston College, says in an interview with the American Psychological Association. “Usually, within five minutes after moderate exercise, you get a mood enhancement effect.”
The reason exercise is a mood elevator? While you exercise, your brain releases endorphins, creating feelings of happiness to fight the exertion your body is experiencing. The release of endorphins during exercise can sometimes be just as effective as antidepressant pills in treating clinical depression.
“The link between exercise and mood is pretty strong,” Michael Otto, professor of psychology at Boston College, says in an interview with the American Psychological Association. “Usually, within five minutes after moderate exercise, you get a mood enhancement effect.”
But the effects of physical activity extend beyond the short-term. Research shows that exercise can also help alleviate long-term depression.
According to a 2010 Duke University study, when following up a year later with subjects who used different methods to treat their depression, the subjects who reported regular exercise had lower depression scores than did their less active counterparts.
“Exercise seems not only important for treating depression, but also in preventing relapse,” says James Blumenthal, clinical psychologist at Duke.
For those who don’t like going to the gym but still want the mood elevation, there is good news. New findings show activities such as dancing, yoga, walking and gardening cause the brain to release levels of endorphins similar to running.
Charles Williams is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at adeperro@cityscenemediagroup.com.
