When you work out, which types of exercises are you doing?
A recent study showed that exercise activated more benefits than pharmaceutical drugs. It even encouraged better psychotherapy for patients in psychiatric care facilities. Exercise helps reduce anxiety, depression, anger, and physical agitation while fostering a more integrated sense of self.
Exercising boosts endorphins, our self-generated opioid chemicals that improve mood and well-being! The best exercise to release brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and endorphins is high-intensity interval training (HIIT). HIIT is a form of exercise in which you work out as hard as you can to reach your maximum heart rate, allow yourself to recover, and then do it again. This type of workout can give you great results in durations of under an hour, typically just 20-30 minutes!
HIIT’s anti-inflammatory benefits prevent brain-degenerating diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Parkinson’s. Brain inflammation is a common problem today, and it’s often an underlying factor in depression.
Exercise is Proven to Boost Your Mood
A researcher at the University of Vermont decided to see what would happen if patients in Psychiatric in-patient facilities were prescribed daily exercise as well. Of the roughly 6,000 psychiatric hospitals in the United States, only a handful offer gym facilities.
Researchers built a gym that could accommodate about 100 patients at the medical center’s in-patient psychiatric hospital. Patients were led through regular one-hour exercise programs, as well as nutritional counseling. Researchers found exercise had greater benefits for patients who struggled with psychotherapy.
About 95 percent of patients reported the exercise improved their mood, while more than 60 percent said exercising made them either happy or very happy, as opposed to the sadness they originally felt. The majority of patients also reported feeling improved physical well-being.
Contact our office for advice on a functional fitness routine that is right for you!
