7 Ways Good Physical Health Alleviates Depression

Depression has many causes. While some of them are caused by medical issues that may need a doctor's help and treatment with prescription medication, there are many cases where depression symptoms are caused by poor physical health and environmental factors. Thankfully, we can reverse the symptoms of mild to moderate depression naturally through exercise. As a bonus, exercise will have you feeling better both physically and mentally.

You don't need to embark upon a strenuous new exercise routine to find relief from your depression symptoms. A more gentle practice like yoga will be just as beneficial without the strain on your body. Find an activity that you enjoy so you are more likely to stick to it. Consistency is key in helping to reduce your depression symptoms. Start out slowly with a few minutes each day and you can gradually build up as you increase your strength and endurance.

Exercise has some notable effects on your body. Check out a few of the benefits that you can expect to experience.

Endorphins

Exercise is known to release endorphins. These feel-good chemicals are released in the brain with physical activity and will uplift your mood and energize you. Feeling good will inspire you to continue to exercise and the benefits will keep adding up.

Better Brain Function

Being physically active and exercising will also improve your brain function. Studies have shown that exercise causes your nerve cells to grow and develop better connections with each other. When this happens, your brain functions much better which will cause an uplift in your mood.

Reduce Inflammation

Another way that exercise can benefit you is that it can reduce inflammation. Inflammation can lead to depression or make existing symptoms worse. Sometimes, people that are resistant to anti-depression medications have increased inflammation. This can also cause a number of other symptoms and diseases if left untreated for too long.

Improve Sleep Quality

An adequate amount of quality sleep is important for your physical health. If you're not rested your body is unable to recover properly. Sleep allows your body to repair any damage and build strength. If you aren't getting enough sleep, you aren't able to resist injuries or fight off infections as well. Poor sleep can also lead to irritability and mood swings.

Lower Stress

Exercising can be very effective at eliminating stress and anxiety. Being anxious and stressed for long periods of time can cause depression. A regular exercise routine will alleviate these symptoms and allow you to relax and stop negative and racing thoughts.

Treats Physical Tension

If you are holding too much stress or negative emotions within your body, you may begin to tense up physically. Over time this can affect the muscles of your body and lead to muscle aches and pains. You might even find that you are tensing your chest and stomach and are unconsciously breathing more shallowly.

By exercising you will loosen this muscle tension and start to breathe more deeply again. This will greatly improve your overall physical health and comfort.

Provides a Distraction

Finally, a great way that exercise can help you heal from depression is that it will distract you. Being active will take your mind off of your misery and negative thoughts and give you something else to focus on. If you can get your body moving, you can break out of your habits of negativity. You could even find a new activity that you love to do. Getting out of your own head and concentrating on something else, even for just a few minutes, will be highly beneficial to you.

Exercise is a great way to naturally alleviate the symptoms of depression. A good thing to consider if you are having any problems is to take a supplement to help boost the effectiveness of any new exercise routine. A good source for information on supplements is Dr. Gundry's blog. It also gives you access to purchase some quality products that can help you on your wellness journey. A Total Restore coupon is available for new users and a good beginning point.

It doesn't take long to notice the benefits of exercise. The best thing you can do is to just make a start. Stop putting it off and take action now. Soon you'll see how much your depression symptoms have improved.

*This blog post was written by Lindsey Patterson.