| Let's pretend you can shrink yourself to a | | | | shown that exercise increases your endorphin levels |
| microscopic level, because we're going on a field trip | | | | and make you feel better. In addition, it also |
| inside your brain. We're going to take a look at your | | | | decreases the risk of various health problems such as |
| brain and try to learn all we can about its link with | | | | cancer and obesity. |
| depression. | | | | But what if you don't feel like exercising? |
| If we were to travel inside your brain, we would see | | | | Oftentimes, we don't want to try something new |
| special substances called neurotransmitters scurrying | | | | because we feel like it will be too hard or it's |
| about. These neurotransmitters allow your brain's | | | | something we don't feel confident we can do. So |
| nerve cells to communicate with one another. They're | | | | make it easy on yourself. Don't try jogging 10 miles if |
| responsible for helping you to feel good. Although the | | | | you've never even run half a mile. Start out slow. |
| exact biochemical causes of depression still elude | | | | Don't take the elevator when you can take the |
| scientists, they have found that doing one simple | | | | stairs. Go for an easy stroll after dinner. You're not |
| thing can help you feel better. | | | | training to beat Olympian Michael Phelps' world |
| It's called exercise. | | | | records. You're just trying to increase the amount of |
| You can play Frisbee, take your dog for a walk in the | | | | physical activity you do. |
| park, or go for a jog. Any of these will serve as a | | | | The good news is it won't take up that much of |
| natural remedy for depression. It's not really the type | | | | your time. |
| of activity that counts, it's just making sure you do | | | | One study from Northern Arizona University found |
| something. | | | | that 10 minutes of pedaling on a stationary bicycle |
| But why does exercise work? | | | | helped a group of women students feel better. |
| Let's go back inside your brain. Your brain has special | | | | That's right, 10 minutes was all it took. Although the |
| receptors for substances called opiates. In case you | | | | research doesn't point to what type of exercise |
| haven't heard of them, opiates are substances that | | | | works best as a natural treatment for depression, it |
| create feelings of pleasure and temporarily alleviate | | | | does show that almost any exercise is better than |
| pain. Synthetic drugs such as heroin mimic the effects | | | | nothing. So even if you feel like you can't do 10 |
| of opiates in the brain. Fortunately, you don't need | | | | minutes, make it easy on yourself by doing some |
| drugs to create a feeling of pleasure. There's another | | | | physical activity for a few minutes. |
| more natural way to do this. | | | | Getting started at beating depression is easy. |
| They're called endorphins. | | | | It starts with moving your body. It's free and it |
| Endorphins are neurotransmitters that interact with | | | | doesn't take that long. When you exercise, you'll be |
| your brain's opiate receptors to alleviate pain and give | | | | releasing feel-good chemicals into your bloodstream. |
| you an emotional boost. You feel better when you | | | | It's one of the best natural remedies for depression |
| stimulate endorphin secretion. Study after study has | | | | and one of the safest to boot. |