The Secret to Stress Relief

Enlarge Image Image Gallery New research is proving that exercise is as healthy for the mind as it is for the body. CORBIS

Exercise isn’t always the first thing that comes to mind when we’re feeling stressed or anxious. For many of us, it’s more tempting to grab a pint of ice cream and the remote control than to head to the gym. But before you open that freezer, consider this: Recent studies have found that people who exercise regularly aren’t just more physically fit than those who don’t, they’re generally happier and less stressed, too.

Exercising just 30 minutes several times a week can relieve general anxiety and stress, and can be an effective treatment for more serious conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. A recent study conducted at the University of Colorado suggested that physical activity also can prevent stress to our immune systems, leaving us less susceptible to some bacterial and viral infections.

Perhaps most importantly, studies have shown that people who exercise have a more positive outlook on the world in general. The good news is that you don’t need to train for a marathon to brighten your perspective on life — for people new to exercise, even as little as 10 minutes a day has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety, and promote a general sense of well-being.

The Mind-Body Connection

Researchers don’t know exactly how exercise reduces stress, but they have a number of possible explanations. “More than likely, the results stem from a combination of physiological and mental factors,” says Steven Petruzzello, a professor of kinesiology and director of the exercise psychophysiology laboratory at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

One explanation is that exercise itself is a form of stress, and forcing your body to move from its normal state of rest provokes a natural “fight or flight” response that activates endorphins — hormonelike substances in the brain, chemically similar to narcotics, that are believed to control our moods and emotions along with our responses to pain. This is a popular theory, but Petruzzello cautions that most of the studies that support it measured endorphins in the blood. Researchers still aren’t sure whether these compounds behave the same way in the nervous system.