Is High-Intensity Exercise More of a Mood Booster Than Steady-State Cardio?

Have you ever launched into a workout feeling slightly down or maybe a little “stressed out?” But by the end of the workout, your mind had cleared and your mood has lifted. That’s the magic of exercise! Research shows regular physical activity benefits brain function in more than one way. Not only can it spur the growth of new nerve cells in part of the brain involved in memory, a process called neurogenesis, it also boosts mood. Yes, the “feel good” effect of exercise is real, and it’s one reason people keep doing it. Beyond the known health benefits, exercising regularly helps you maintain a healthy state of mind and better deal with stress. We know that longer-term exercise has physical and mental health benefits. But what about a single, vigorous bout of exercise, a high-intensity interval training session? What impact does it have on mood? According to some research, 30 minutes of high-intensity exercise rivals anti-depressant medications for lifting the mood of people suffering from depression. It’s not clear why intense exercise boosts mood, but a theory is that the endorphin release you get from a kick-butt workout has beneficial effects on the brain and on mood. What’s so special about endorphins? They’re natural chemicals your brain produces that have a pain-relieving, calming effect. Your brain makes more endorphins when you’re in pain or are under stress, as during challenging exercise. Fortunately, it’s a good kind of stress! The purpose of endorphin release is to mask the discomfort and ease the pain of working your body to the max. In fact, these chemicals are similar to opioid medications people take for severe pain. They also bring about feelings of calm, peace, and pleasure. So, it’s not hard to see why exercise is a mood booster. It’s also not […]

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