Mental health is as important as physical health, but it’s often overlooked. Mental health refers to how we think and feel about ourselves, our ability to cope with stress, and manage our emotions. Poor mental health can result in depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses. In addition to the risk of developing a mental illness, many studies have linked poor mental health with a greater risk of contracting conditions such as heart disease or diabetes. To improve your mental health and reduce the risk of developing these diseases, you should consider exercising regularly. Here are some of the benefits of regular exercise on your mental health.
Reduce stress and anxiety
Stress reduction is one of the most common benefits of exercise, and it’s often the first thing mentioned in articles about mental health. When you exercise, your body releases hormones called endorphins, which can reduce your feelings of anxiety and stress. Exercise can also help you sleep better, which can also reduce stress and anxiety. If you’re struggling with anxiety, consider exercising in the morning, when your cortisol levels are naturally higher. This can help reduce your cortisol levels and reduce feelings of anxiety.
Promote better sleep
As mentioned above, exercise can help reduce your stress and anxiety. When you’re under a lot of stress, your body releases cortisol, which is a hormone that increases your blood sugar levels. This can disrupt your sleep patterns because cortisol also makes you retain more water, which causes your kidneys to excrete less fluid and feel more thirsty. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins, which can make you feel less stressed and help you sleep better.
Increase happiness and improve your mood
Exercise can also help improve your mood and lead to a general sense of happiness. When you exercise, you produce serotonin, a neurotransmitter that makes you feel happy. Regularly exercising can also increase your levels of endorphins, which can help you feel happier. Exercise can also make you more social by providing you with an opportunity to make new friends. If you’re struggling with depression, try exercising with a friend. If you have a friend with you, you might find it easier to get started and stay motivated.
Help combat depression and improve cognitive function
Exercising can also help improve your cognitive function and help you combat depression. When you regularly exercise, you increase the amount of blood flowing to your brain, increasing your cognitive function. In addition to this, exercise can help reduce your stress and improve your mood, which can also help combat depression. If you’re struggling with depression, try exercising three times a week. You don’t have to do it every day, and you may not notice any benefits if you don’t exercise regularly.
By walking you can also benefit your physical health
If walking is the only exercise you do regularly, you can also benefit your physical health. Regularly walking can reduce your risk of developing heart disease and prevent diabetes and obesity. Almost 30% of people in the United Kingdom are obese, so this is a risk that many people face. When you walk, you can burn calories and reduce your risk of developing these diseases.
Conclusion
Regular exercise can benefit your mental health in a variety of ways. It can reduce your stress and anxiety, promote better sleep, increase your happiness, and help you combat depression and improve cognitive function. By walking you can also benefit your physical health in a number of ways when you regularly exercise. Exercising regularly can improve your mental health and reduce your risk of developing heart disease and diabetes.
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