Exercise has long been associated with being able to help lift a depressed mood. According to "New York Times" article from 2008, researchers in Germany verified that a physiological process involved in exercising floods the brain with endorphins--chemicals that produce changes in mood. Many experts agree that exercising several times a week will not only improve health but improve your mood and help combat stress.
Effects
The overall effects of exercise on brain chemistry are primarily associated with the production of endorphins during aerobic exercise. Endorphins are considered to be the main component of the "runner's high"--the euphoric feeling that some runners get after running for a prolonged period. Some researchers have suggested that other chemicals, such as epinephrine, serotonin and dopamine, also contribute to the elevated mood caused by exercise. The overall effects of exercise seem to suggest that, in addition to improving health, it improves memory, brain cell health and stress levels.
Stress
The American Psychological Association states that exercise helps the body deal with stress, although the mechanism involved is unclear. Some suggest than neurotransmitters, such as norepinephrine, help create a buffer to the chemicals that are produced in the stress reaction; others suggest that exercise forces the different system of the body to communicate more effectively, essentially training the body to deal better with stressful situations.
Mood
Exercise elevates the mood in most people, leaving them happier and more relaxed, according to MayoClinic.com. It can also boost your self-confidence and help to alleviate depression. Although most studies have been done with aerobic exercises, such as running, anaerobic activity, such as lifting weights, is also beneficial, although it does not typically produce as dramatic a mood change as aerobic exercise.
Brain Cells
According to Dr. Myles Spar, exercise slows the loss of gray matter in the brain, which atrophies as we get older. While aerobic exercise has been shown to slow the loss of brain cells, anaerobic exercises stimulate the creation of new brain cells in the part of the brain responsible for memory and learning. The chemicals produced during exercise also help fight the brain-killing chemicals produced during the stress response.
References
- "The New York Times"; Yes, Running Can Make You High; Gina Kolata; March 27, 2008
- The Huffington Post: How Physical Exercise Promotes Brain Health; Myles Spar, M.D.; September 16, 2010
- "Time"; Is Exercise the Best Drug for Depression?; Laura Blue; June 19, 2010
- MayoClinic.com: Exercise: 7 Benefits of Regular Physical Activity
- American Psychological Association: Exercise Fuels the Brain's Stress Buffers; Rod Dishman and Mark Sothmann
