We've all heard about endorphins, they're those hormones that make us feel good and the reason why we should exercise, right? Read on if you want to find out why exercise makes you feel good and how it all works.

Here’s what actually happens:

• Your brain recognises exercise as a moment of stress.
• As your heart rate increases, your brain thinks that you are either fighting the enemy, or fleeing from it.
• To protect you from this, the body releases a protein, BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor).
• This BDNF has a protective element and acts a reset switch.
• At the same time, endorphins, another chemical to fight stress, are released in your brain.
• Endorphins then help minimise the discomfort of exercise by blocking the feeling of pain.

Some more reasons why exercise makes you happy:

• It produces dopamine. This neurotransmitter in the brain is necessary for feelings of pleasure and happiness. The best way to increase your dopamine production? Exercise!
• It combats stress. When you exercise you are subjecting yourself to a low-level form of stress by raising your heart rate. When you subject yourself to the stress of exercise enough, your body will get better at handling the rest of life’s stressors.
• It energises you. No matter how tired you are, do your best to muster up all the willpower to work out. You will feel more energised after the work out, than before.
• It boosts your confidence. When you don’t feel good about your body it’s all too easy to have low self-esteem. But when you exercise and see your body transform, it will make you feel stronger and more confident.
• It eases anxiety. Exercise may be a simple cure. Recent studies have shown that people suffering from anxiety get an immediate mood boost after exercise, followed by long term relief similar to that offered by meditation and therapy.
• It helps with depression. Before getting prescription meds to treat the blues, try exercising instead. You may find that it will make a world of difference.

Exercise triggers all the happy hormones:

• Endorphins. You have heard of these bad boys, they are your reward for working out. They can make you feel happy and also block pain which enables you to push through discomfort. Some people become addicted to this feeling, ever heard of runner’s high?
• Oestrogen. This is what selects carbs or fat from your body to use during an intense work out. Women burn fat for fuel because of their higher oestrogen levels, while guys tend to burn carbs. So menopause can mean some weight gain, or slower weight loss.
• Serotonin. This one is awesome. It makes you feel happy, helps you sleep and boosts your appetite for healthy foods - yay! Serotonin increases when you work out more often and works with endorphins to make you feel good. More energy and clearer thinking is another side-effect.
• Dopamine. Another pleasure chemical, could it get any better?! This guy also shows up during orgasm, need I say more?

By now you should realise why it is that exercise makes you feel so good. So, what are you waiting for?

DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are experiencing symptoms or need health advice, please consult a healthcare professional.