6 Ways Exercise Can Improve Your Mental Health

Exercise not only helps you to develop a leaner, stronger body, but it can also provide various mental health benefits that can potentially transform your outlook on life. Regardless of your age, gender, or fitness level, regular physical activity can make you feel healthier, happier and more confident each day. If you want to enjoy a greater quality of life, here are the six ways exercise can improve your mental health. 1. Reduce Your Stress Levels Stress relief is one of the most common mental health benefits of exercise. That is because physical activity will force your body to work up a sweat, which can remove tension from your muscles. What’s more, exercise can also boost the concentration of norepinephrine in your body, which is a chemical that can improve the brain’s stress response. 2. Increase Your Happiness If reducing your stress levels wasn’t enough, exercise can also make you feel happier. This is due to the body releasing endorphins (feel-good hormones), which can instantly improve your overall mood. Various studies have also found that exercise can ease symptoms for people living with clinical depression or anxiety. 3. Control Your Addiction Living with an addiction can be a daily battle with both the mind and body. Exercise can, however, be combined with a professional, intensive outpatient program , which could prevent a relapse. That’s because a workout will cause the brain to release dopamine, which is a reward chemical that can provide a natural feeling of euphoria. It can also distract a person from their addiction, deprioritize cravings, and can reboot their body clock so they can enjoy an improved sleeping pattern. 4. Prevent Cognitive Decline Cognitive decline is a natural part of aging, and it is caused by a loss of brain cells. Unfortunately, this may result in […]

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