As a vast body of overwhelming scientific evidence accumulates in favour of exercise, today exercise is slowly starting to gain credence, but only in those who are overweight or have some lifestyle disorder such as hypertension or diabetes mellitus.If someone who is not obviously overweight is taking regular exercise, the standard comment is "Why would you need exercise?" It is this kind of attitude which acts as a stumbling block to exercise as people who indulge in it, are labeled as vain or "Figure conscious".
Exercise is not just losing the weight, but about keeping mentally as well as physically fit.Regular aerobic exercise improves aerobic capacity and increases brain blood blow and oxygenation. Exercise also stimulates the reticular activating system and leads to a centrally excited state thereby making the brain active and alert.In a recent study, an aerobic exercise program was found to not only improve cognitive functions but also induce feelings of happiness and well being on every occasion, during and after the exercise program.[Int.J.Sports Med.2005 Apr.; 26(3):220-224]
Similarly, another study has found that aerobic exercise is just as good as standard antidepressant medications for mild-to-moderate depression. [Am.J.Prev.Med. 2005 Jan.;28(1):1- 8]
In the study comparing different exercise programs for people with mild-to-moderate depression, they found a significant reduction in depressive symptoms among those taking part in aerobic exercises.This effect was so marked that the benefit was equivalent to that of standard antidepressant medications for mild-to-moderate depression.
But interestingly, exercise, like drugs,apparently has a dose-dependent effect as the degree of exercise determines whether or not it would be effective.New research reveals that exercise can act as a tonic for the mind and induce a feeling of well being and joy that any drug would be hard pressed to match.
From,
Oneness Youth Team
