The physical benefits of exercise such as lowered blood pressure, and reduced risk of heart failure, diabetes, and cancer are widely known and accepted. As awareness increases for mental health support, research reveals that exercise has the same positive effect on one’s mental health.
Many people may question the scientific reasoning, so let’s talk about it! During physical activity, your muscles contract and release a plethora of chemicals into the bloodstream, one of these chemicals being myokines. Myokines are small proteins that are sometimes called “hope molecules”. These hope molecules travel to the brain center and act as an antidepressant. They do this by improving our mood, our ability to learn, our capacity for locomotor activity, and protecting the brain from negative aging effects. This process is often referred to as “muscle-brain cross-talk”. Myokines are also responsible for improved metabolism, reduced inflammation, and increased muscle strength. There are also lots of other factors at play here, like the release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, noradrenaline, and serotonin which have a positive impact on the brain.
Although this brief explanation is only a glance at the complex system at work, the key takeaway is that exercise helps both our brains and our bodies. Exercise is known to reduce symptoms of mental health disorders like major depressive disorder. Doctors are beginning to give out ‘social prescriptions’ advocating for people to spend more time outdoors, go on daily walks, and engage with their community in outdoor spaces. Don’t wait until you are given a social prescription. Leap now and experience the myriad of benefits that will come your way. If you’re looking for more information about the mental health benefits of exercise check out https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/may/04/exercise-mental-health-hope-molecules-mood-strength