Exercise Reduces Stress Levels

Numerous studies show that exercise reduces stress levels.

In recent years, many scientific studies have emerged showing that stress can have a huge and detrimental impact on the body. However, not all stress is alike. Essentially, there are two types of stress. There are huge stressors, for example, changing jobs, getting divorced, or facing imminent danger, and there are everyday stressors, for example, paying the bills, meeting deadlines and picking up the kids from school.

Surprisingly, it's these everyday stressors, or hassles, that leave the biggest impact on our bodies, not the really "big" events that transpire in our lives. It may seem strange, but facing down a robber (hopefully, a onetime occurrence) is much less stressful on the body than constantly having to cook dinner for a family of four (an everyday occurrence). What can be done? Exercise. Here's how exercise reduces stress levels:

Exercise has a wonderfully positive impact on the mind. This is because when you exercise, you usually need to take in increased amounts of oxygen. This oxygen floods the brain, essentially "feeding" it, and in the process helps it to work better and function more efficiently.

Not only is exercise good for your brain, but it also improves the way your body functions overall and in the following ways:

• Positively effects homeostasis: Homeostasis is a fancy way of describing the ideal state the different systems in our body should have, and this in turn, is closely tied to one's hormone regulation. Exercise helps to regulate our homeostasis equilibrium by ensuring that our hormones are functioning properly.

• Reduce illness: Not only will your hormones function more efficiently with exercise, but you will also be reducing your risk of illness. Exercise shores up our immune system, and reduces blood pressure, all of which translates into being less likely to catch a cold.

Studies repeatedly demonstrate the positive side effects of exercise on your internal processes, but exercise can also have profound effects on your mental well being. People who exercise regularly report higher levels of self-esteem, more capable at tackling life's problems, and tend to see themselves as more attractive than those that don't exercise.

You may be thinking, "Well, all of that sounds great, but will exercise really reduce my stress levels?" The answer is yes. How? Stress, no matter how large or small, activates your flight or fights response and in doing so, floods your body with a cocktail of different hormones.

Think about it. When you are stressed, do you find yourself snapping at others and feeling irritable (that's the "fight" part), or do you shirk your responsibilities and dive under the bed covers when it all becomes "too much" (that's the "flight" part).

Exercise "burns" up these chemicals so that you don't constantly feel like fighting with someone, or hiding from the world. Once these hormones have burned themselves out, your level of homeostasis improves, and you feel calm, and ready to tackle the world once again.

Done repeatedly, (five or six times a week) exercise will help to regulate your mind so that you're not grumpy and tired all the time. Instead, you'll feel clam, confident, and best of all, happy!

If you still need convincing consider this. Many people report having difficulty in sleeping. That in itself seems harmless enough, but when you don't get enough sleep, guess what happens? You gain weight.

In scientific terms, and according to two studies, one by the University of Chicago in Illinois and another by Stanford University in California, found that a lack of sleep causes the hormone Leptin (the chemical that tells you you're full),while simultaneously raising your levels of Ghreline (the hormone that tells you to eat). So, when you don't sleep, you find yourself starving, desperately searching your refrigerator for food. That is why a lack of sleep leads to weight gain.

That might sound pretty depressing; if it weren't for one tiny fact- you have a magic bullet to end that weight gain cycle, and it's called exercise! Exercise will tire out the body, and that will help you to fall asleep. In this way, you'll be taking off the extra pounds in no time!

Exercise reduces stress level because it regulates the very hormones that control stress. Instead of having these hormones course through your body unchecked, exercise will burn them off. The end result? For the most part, you feel great, and ready to tackle life’s challenges!

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