The Fascinating Science of Effect of Exercise on Mental Health!

 Why exercise?

Exercise is the most effective way of chopping away your boredom, ill health, negativity, and yield in robust health, good heart rate, positivity, and self-assertiveness. Why is that? Well, research has proved that, by doing some physical exercise for 30-45minutes a day can boost your mental health and increase your chance to feel joyful and ebullient. I would say thanks to all those happy hormones that secrete during and after the workout. 

You would have felt a gush of energy after the workout because these hormones play an umpteen role in making you feel like that. Is not it like magic? I can tell you from my own experience about it. Whenever I complete a session, I feel upbeat all day long! Beaming with energy and a positive outlook are what I come upon after an ass crunching session. I will tell you why we feel so good after a workout. 

 

Four happy hormones secrete during the workout. Yeah, you can tell that you overload yourself with natural drugs in a session. Happy news! You do not need dope or marijuana! A good workout can fulfill your need to getting high. Hence, Your goal should be to get healthy, not stoned. Doing anything for the sake of getting high creates addiction in you, even exercise. Thus, our only goal should be to become healthy both mentally and physically.

 

You will be dazed to know that you are getting 2 in 1 benefit! As it is proved from scientific research that our body and mind are connected, we get the benefit of mental health in addition to physical health. Let us come back to the topic of happy hormones. what are they, and how do they cause that spell in us during the workout? You would have listened to some of them or even all. They are-

Endorphin- When doing exercise, you feel this energy to push more, even though you are soar, is because of endorphin, also denoted as a feel-good chemical. It is a hormone that acts as an analgesic(painkiller). An important thing to consider is not to have a bad posture in time of energy rush, as there could be some health issues later on. Like they say, use your weapon wisely, right!

Serotonin- scientists call it a happy chemical for a reason. It is a neurotransmitter that also acts like a hormone in our body. Good foods and exercise boost this hormone in our body. In some people, this hormone secretes in less amount, which leads to depression. For those patients, medication is necessary. Exercise will work as an additional benefit. Then why we shall not hit the gym or work out at home!

Dopamine- It is much more than a neurotransmitter and hormone. It acts as a messenger chemical between neurons. You know, when you crave a tasty dish(which is your favorite), the moment you eat it, you feel content. That is where this chemical works. It activates the reward system in the brain. So, after having your special dish, you crave more, and it is all because of dopamine. Research suggests that certain kinds of exercises can boost dopamine. There is a need for more research in that domain. Dopamine also helps in other areas like movement, memory, learning, cognition, sleep, behavior, and mood enhancement. More often than not, you can get addicted if you follow a bad habit like too much drinking, doing drugs, pornography. You will crave more when you get addicted to these, and in the process, your dopamine gets exhausted, and you will be in that cycle, always craving for more and more.

 

Oxytocin- well, if you feel a surge of love, sense of security, and trust, whenever you hug or touch your partner or friends or family members, voila! Oxytocin is in action! It also releases during pregnancy and after childbirth. As it strengthens the bond between mother and her baby, it is called the love hormone. Oxytocin creates a strong bond between spouses! So guys, never forget to cuddle or give a hug to your partner after a discord. Yeah, it will save a relationship. In addition to this, I want to call out oxytocin's positive effects on human health even after a ten-minute run. Finally, that is another reason for you to get down to the floor and smash some push-ups!

 

Conclusion

Doing exercise has not only physical but also mental health benefits. I will talk about mental health entirely on some other day, as it is a vast domain in itself. Here, I  want you to know the basics of the relationship between exercise and mental health. You would have been familiar by now, how a workout can boost your mental health by engendering secretion of certain chemicals in the brain. Are not these reasons enough to get you out of your couch and throw you to a floor! Keep working out and stay fit!See you next time with a gripping and knowledgeable topic. Till then, take care of your health.       

   

I would request that before doing any exercise, please consult a physician. He/She will give you a clean chit if you are ready for certain types of workouts or not. Based on your doctor's recommendations, plan your workout program.              

Sources

https://www.ncbi.nim.nih.gov

https://www.healthline.com