Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Exercise and Mental Health Benefits


For more than a decade, businessman Edgar Alacan has been successfully running his aircraft charter and rental service company Jets.com. He is also on the board of directors of PietrosFight.org, an organization dedicated to fighting Duchenne muscular dystrophy. During his leisure hours, Edgar Alacan enjoys fishing, swimming, and exercising.

Exercise is not only beneficial to the body; it benefits mental health. Exercise is a great stress reliever and can alleviate depression. People who exercise tone their muscles and improve their cardiovascular efficiency. They also come out of an exercise session with a heightened feeling of well-being.

Stress causes tightening of the neck, shoulders, and face muscles, and headaches. High levels of stress may also result in insomnia, intestinal problems, and heartburn. Exercise breaks the stress cycle and releases endorphins in the brain while relaxing the body’s muscle groups. Endorphins are neurochemicals in the brain that induce feelings of pleasure and reduce pain.

Exercise is a side-effect-free alternative to taking antidepressant medicine. A Harvard study shows that running for 15 minutes or walking for an hour reduces the risk of depression by 26 percent. A regular exercise routine can relieve depression symptoms, too.