5 Mental Health Benefits Of Diet And Exercise

 

A smiling woman

We all know exercise is great for the body, but did you know working out can also improve your sleep, boost your overall mood, and decrease symptoms of anxiety and depression?

Exercise is more than just about muscle size and aerobic capacity. Sure, it helps you keep your waistline in check, improves your physique and sex life, and helps you live longer, but for some, that may not be enough motivation.

Most people who exercise regularly feel more at peace with their well-being. They’re a lot more energetic throughout the day, get better sleep at night, have a better memory, and feel much more positive and relaxed about their life in general. It can be a strong deterrent against many common mental health problems.

If you exercise regularly, you can improve your sleep quality, anxiety, depression, and symptoms of ADHD. You don’t need to make working out your number one priority in life—even modest amounts of exercise, such as 30 minutes of moderate-intensity movement every day, can make a difference. Regardless of your fitness level or age, exercise is a powerful tool to help you improve your outlook, energy, and mental health issues and live a more fulfilling life.

Here’s how a good fitness and nutrition program online can affect your mental well-being.

 

A dancing silhouette of a woman

Depression

Exercise is extremely helpful for treating moderate or mild depression, just as effectively as an antidepressant, but without the harmful side effects. Running for just 15 minutes a day or taking an hour-long walk daily can reduce the risk of developing or exacerbating major depression by around 26%. Along with relieving the symptoms of depression, creating and maintaining an exercise schedule can also keep you from relapsing.

Exercise is great for fighting depression for a variety of reasons—it promotes different changes in your brain, such as reduced inflammation, neural growth, and the development of calming activity patterns. Working out can also trigger the release of endorphins. These feel-good hormones energize your spirit and improve your overall well-being. And, of course, it also serves as a great distraction—helping your mind break free from the cycle of sad or negative thoughts.

Anxiety

If you’re looking for an effective and natural treatment for mild anxiety, exercise is the way to go. It relieves stress and tension, boosts mental and physical energy, and improves your well-being by releasing endorphins. Anything can be helpful as long as it’s making your body move, but your mind should pay attention to your movements instead of just zoning out.

Stay mindful of all your senses—notice the feeling of the ground against your feet, the way your lungs expand with every breath, or how the wind feels on your face. This element of mindfulness will help you focus on your body’s needs as you exercise, interrupting the stream of worrisome or depressive thoughts in your head.

 

A woman doing yoga

Stress

Do you ever notice how your body feels when you’re stressed? Your muscles are probably super tense, especially around your shoulders, neck, and face. This can leave you with painful headaches, neck pain, or back pain. You might also feel a tightening sensation in your chest, muscle cramps, or a loud pulse.

Many people also experience issues such as frequent urination, diarrhea, stomachaches, and heartburn as a result of stress. The discomfort and worry from these symptoms can stress you out even further, creating a downward spiral where your health just deteriorates.

Exercise can help you break the cycle. The release of endorphins in your brain and the physical activity can relax your muscles and relieve the tension stored inside your body. The mind and body share a very close link—if your body feels good, your mind will follow, and vice versa.

ADHD

ADHD is a common mental health disorder that affects a person’s memory, mood, motivation, and concentration. Regular exercise is an effective and easy way to reduce the intensity of these symptoms since physical activity can boost the levels of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine in the brain—all of these affect your attention and focus.

Hence, exercise works rather similarly to Adderall and Ritalin, which are common medications for ADHD.

Trauma and PTSD

If you focus on your body and movement as you exercise, you can encourage your nervous system to move out of the stress response caused by trauma or PTSD. Don’t let your mind wander—pay attention to the sensations in your muscles, joints, and lungs as you move your body. Exercises with cross movements such as swimming, running, dancing, or weight training are excellent choices.

You can also explore outdoor activities such as rock climbing, mountain biking, sailing, and hiking.

Pink exercise gear, including a yoga mat and dumbbells

Download this Workout and Meal Plan App

Do you need some extra help to stay motivated to work out? Start Today Wellness is an exclusive fitness and diet plan app with more than 200 pre-made virtual workouts and weekly updates on various nutrition, wellness, and health topics. It’s a top-notch workout app for muscle gain and weight loss. Reach your fitness goals without any delays with its help today!

Get in touch to find out more about this app.

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