Home > Slimming > News > ExerciseThis winter, if you're feeling a little seasonally challenged, it might help to remind yourself that regular exercise improves mood and helps to relieve depression. Despite the wide use of anti-depressant medication and general awareness of the debilitating effects depression has on individuals and society (through loss of quality of life, reduced productivity and treatment expense 4,5), MDD is predicted to be the second greatest health burden in our country, behind cardiovascular disease 6. Beside these sombre statistics, it is consistently shown that various potential anti depressant neuro-chemical responses occur when an individual exercises 7. This includes an increase in endorphins (renowned feel-good hormones), which promote mode elevation and even increase one's threshold to pain 8. Cortisol is a hormone produced in response to excessive stress. Metabolically, cortisol can contribute to all manner of modern-day-ills including diabetes. While exercise may result in immediate raise in cortisol levels (if appropriate nutritional intake doesn't accompany the exercise session), long term-effects of exercise may produce chronic beneficial reductions in cortisol production. No wonder evidence continually shows that regular physical activity is effective in preventing and managing other diseases too, including diabetes, hypertension, cancer, cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. Regardless of the type of exercise (anabolic or aerobic), sufferers of MDD report immediate increased vigour and lessened tension when compared with people at rest 9. Additionally, certain types of exercise have demonstrated an ability to increase testosterone levels in both men and women, which may help protect individuals from depression 10. With these insights it is clear that while it might be cold and grey outside, as an overall wellness strategy, there's no better time to get moving than now! It is important to note, that good nutrition is a key factor in helping assist with increased energy exertion, muscle activity, and therefore replenishment of body reserves. The right fuel may even help you get off the couch, in the first place! Aussie Bodies has a range of high quality protein supplements, to assist with revival, recovery and protein reserves, for active individuals. If you are taking anti-depressant medication or have been inactive for a long time, it is important to seek the advice of your health practitioner or a personal trainer before making any drastic changes to your diet and lifestyle regime. However, when the next well-meaning person comes along, suggesting you "move it or lose it", perhaps you won't be so resistant to their optimistic encouragement? Here's to more exercise for the sake of happiness! |
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