In the immortal words of Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, "Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. She was right. Anyone who's ever broken a sweat knows the power of that feel-better energy after a head-clearing run or a sweaty group fitness class. And scientific research backs this up.
Seventy-eight percent of people said in a recent survey that their mental and emotional well-being was their number one reason for exercising. And in another survey, 44 percent of people rated mental health as their top health concern in 2023. Yet the conversation around utilizing physical activity as an Rx of sorts remains a complicated one, experts agree.
Exercise is often more accessible and affordable than traditional treatment methods, so it's no wonder that hashtags like #runningis mytherapy (which has been used nearly 1.3 million times on Instagram) or #movementismedicine (used 1.7 million times) are all over social media feeds.
The sticking point is that conflating exercise with therapy may be a large oversimplification. And even suggesting it's as powerful as therapy or medication, or that it can replace them, could stigmatize the use of crucial mainstream interventions, says Angel Brutus, PsyD, lead psychological services provider on the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee and a fellow at the Association for Applied Sport Psychology.
As science and the numbers show, working out is a valuable tool in dealing with mental health disorders but it's not always a solution on its own. You can use it healthily and in conjunction with other proven ways of improving mental health, but it's important to be aware of how you use exercise as an outlet. Let's unpack, shall we?
HOW SWEAT AFFECTS YOUR BRAIN
Bu hikaye Women's Health US dergisinin January - February 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Women's Health US dergisinin January - February 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Ready. Set. Grow.- Two-time olympian Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has mastered the art of the game face
Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has cleared many hurdles on the way to her best self, both physically and mentally. Here, the 24-yearold reveals her winning strategies for nurturing her body and quieting her mind.
Amino Acids- Get the inside scoop on whether the booster can help you build muscle and more).
There are as many performance supplements as there are protein-packed foods in a WH editor’s fridge. A biggie? Amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein. The 11 amino acids our bodies synthesize are called “nonessential,” but we need 9 others (known as “essential”) to survive. These supps contain “one or more of the essential amino acids your body doesn’t produce on its own,” says Adam Field, PhD, a lecturer in sport and exercise sciences at Manchester Metropolitan University in England.
Biome Business - The vaginal microbiome holds valuable insights into your health. Learn more about the trendy idea of optimizing your own.
The vaginal microbiome holds valuable insights into your health. Learn more about the trendy idea of optimizing your own. The vaginal microbiome is a topic that's "never gotten enough attention," despite being a complex and incredibly important system, says Johanna B. Holm, PhD, an assistant professor in the department of microbiology and immunology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. For starters, the microbiome helps ward off unwanted bacteria and may even play a role in reducing the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and preterm birth, recent research found. And while it's all still new, scientists are starting to develop diagnostic tests to make sense of the vaginal microbiome in a meaningful way.
Redefining Intimacy- How an unexpected diagnosis forced one woman to completely transform her relationship
How an unexpected diagnosis forced one woman to completely transform her relationship. I met with my primary care physician to review the results of my mammogram and biopsy. "You have breast cancer," she informed me. "But the good news is you caught it early and it's treatable." I sat on the exam table in disbelief as she explained my options.
Nature Therapy - Bring the benefits of the environment into your home and shower-with this growing beauty trend.
Bring the benefits of the environment into your home and shower with this growing beauty trend. Cultures around the globe have long recognized the powerful mind-and-body boost you can get from communing with nature. You've probably experienced these effects for yourself-think about the invigorating feeling of a hike through the woods or the energizing zip from a swim in a chilly lake. I know I have.
Ozempic's Surprising Superpower - weight-loss medicines are also the most promising option I've seen for a drug that could treat addiction, whether to alcohol, opioids, or nicotine.
A neuroscientist and leader in the field of addiction explains why popular weight-loss drugs might hold the key to radical new treatments. 48 million+ Americans 12 years or older had a substance use disorder in 2022, yet only 24% received treatment.
the sunscreen guide...that will change your life
From the amount to use (it may be more than you think) to the differences between mineral and chemical SPFs, our handbook will help you stay safe and have fun in the sun.
under pressure
Knee pain is on the rise among men and women— and with it, a messy, imperfectly regulated world of quick-fix injections marketed to offer relief. Ahead, what works (and doesn't!) to soothe joints.
glute gains
How one trainer is changing the conversation around the importance of glute health and its indisputable role in longevity. Oh, and she offers up her exclusive training plan for your strongest butt ever.
tins for the win
Put all that canned fish to good use (in the most delicious way) with these protein-packed suppers and creative recipes.