Is Regular Exercise a key to Mental Health?
There have been numerous studies of physical activity and elite sport that have been invest into finding the relationship between sport and exercise and depression. Roughly 15% of the population suffer from depression
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According to the study of Chekroud et al, which involved 1 million members of the U.S population in this study, it was discovered that the relationship between physical exercise and mental health burden. The study shows a correlation between a higher frequency of regular physical exercise and fewer days on which mental health was not good.
Exercise as Treatment
Though antidepressant medications are a common way to treat the condition, research shows that exercise is also an effective treatment
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Dr. Miller says getting up and moving just a little bit a today is the best wiay to begin the process of exercise. "Start with five minutes a day of walking or any activity you enjoy. Soon, five minutes of activity will become 10, and 10 will become 15."
Take Home Thoughts
The correlation with mental health burden was lowest when individuals engage in 45 minutes of exercise 3-5 days per week.
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The hard part of treating depression with exercise is always starting and figuring out what to do. However, once you get started you can see the progress each and everyday with your health mentally and physically.
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What are 5 mental health benefits of exercise?
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More Energy
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Higher Self-Esteem
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Sharper Memory and Thinking
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Better Sleep
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Decreased Stress
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Page done by: Mitchell
Team vs Individual Sports
Physical exercise from participants in popular (team) sports had shown to have the greatest positive correlation with good mental health. Most young athletes who are in individual sports are at greater risk for depressive symptoms than those who are in team sports.
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Sports that are best for mental health are Basketball, Football, Soccer, Baseball, Waterpolo, etc.
