Written By Are you tired of hearing about exercise just in the context of weight loss? While shedding pounds is a common motivation for hitting the gym, working out has benefits that go far beyond simply fitting into smaller clothes. One area where it can have a profound impact: your mental health. Regular exercise has been shown to reduce stress, boost mood, and alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression. If you’re looking for a way to feel better both physically and mentally, read on to learn more about how exercise can transform your life.
Why Exercise is Important
Regular exercise has many benefits for your mental health, both short- and long-term. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), physical activity can reduce your risk of developing obesity, heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, depression, anxiety, and PTSD. In addition, regular exercise has been linked with better moods and decreased stress levels.
One study found that women who exercised 30 minutes or more per day experienced significantly lower levels of depression compared to women who exercised less than 20 minutes per day. In fact, those who exercised 50 or more minutes per week had a 47 percent lower rate of depression than those who exercised less than 30 minutes per week! Exercise also helps improve self-esteem and body image because it leads to increased feelings of physical competence.
In addition to its mental health benefits, exercise has other significant physical benefits as well. Regular exercise has been shown to decrease your risk of heart disease by up to 50 percent, reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes by up to 75 percent, reduce your risk of developing obesity by up to 60 percent over the course of a lifetime, and increase lifespan by as much as 5 years!
How Exercise Can Help with Mental Health
Mental health is a topic that is often left unspoken and misunderstood. It can be one of the most difficult things to talk about, especially with those we care about the most. However, mental health issues are real and deserve our attention. Exercise has been shown to play a role in improving mental health outcomes for many people, both physically and mentally.
Physical exercise has been proven to help reduce stress levels and improve moods. According to The Huffington Post, “Regular exercise not only helps you lose weight but also increases your overall happiness by helping you reduce anxiety and depression symptoms.” This is because physical activity releases endorphins, which are hormones that make you feel good! Additionally, research suggests that spending time in nature has a positive impact on mental well-being as well. For example, being outside in fresh air has been shown to decrease stress levels and improve moods.
Mental health also depends on social interactions. Having supportive friends and family members can be incredibly helpful when it comes to feeling happy and healthy mentally. Exercise can also help us stay healthy socially by making us more interactive and communicative. When we’re physically active, we tend to have more energy which allows us to participate more fully in social activities.
So whether you’re looking to lose weight or just boost your overall happiness, incorporating regular exercise into your life can be tremendously helpful for your mental health!
What Types of Exercise are Best for Your Mental Health?
Regular exercise has been linked with a decreased risk of depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. Researchers at the University of Tuebingen in Germany reviewed published studies that evaluated the link between physical activity and mental health. They found that people who exercised regularly had a lower risk of developing mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, stress, and bipolar disorder.
The study authors write: “Physical activity is beneficial for general well-being and reduces the risk for several chronic diseases. In addition to this general benefit, there are also specific benefits for mental health…Physical activity can have a positive effect on symptoms of depression, anxiety disorders, stress-related conditions (such as develop PTSD), eating disorders, and substance abuse.”
The researchers suggest that there may be two main mechanisms through which physical activity benefits mental health: by improving overall body function and by reducing stress levels. Physical activity has been shown to improve overall body function by increasing strength, flexibility, and aerobic capacity. It has also been shown to reduce stress levels by decreasing cortisol levels and improving self-esteem.
Exercise can also have psychological benefits beyond just reducing symptoms of mental illness. For example, regular exercise has been linked with increased happiness and satisfaction with life. It has also been shown to increase creativity and productivity. The key is finding an exercise routine that you enjoy doing—something that you look forward to doing each day. If you find yourself dreading your workouts each time you do them, it’s likely
How Often Should You Exercise to Keep Your Mental Health in Check?
Regular exercise has a lot of mental health benefits that go beyond weight loss. It can help improve mood, energy levels, and cognitive function. In fact, people who are physically active have a 40% lower risk of developing depression, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Additionally, people who regularly engage in physical activity have improved self-confidence and are more likely to report feeling good about themselves.
There is some debate over how often you should exercise to maintain mental health. The American Psychological Association (APA) recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity per week. However, the APA notes that this amount is only an estimate and that everyone’s needs and preferences may be different. Some people may need more than 150 minutes per week, while others may only need 75 minutes.
Ultimately, the most important factor is that you find something you enjoy doing and stick with it! If regular exercise feels too hard or boring, make sure to mix things up by trying new activities or taking part in group workouts. You’ll be surprised at how much your mental health improves just by working out consistently!
Conclusion
Despite what you may have been told, there is more to mental health than simply losing weight. If you are looking for a way to improve your overall wellbeing and protect your mental health long-term, adding regular exercise into your routine is a great place to start. Not only will it help you lose weight, but it will also improve your moods, anxiety levels, and even cognitive function. If this isn’t enough to convince you that exercise should be part of your daily routine, consider these 7 mind-blowing benefits of regular exercise.
