In a sedentary world, especially during a global pandemic, it is more important than ever to get up and move your body.
Here’s a statistic for you: According to HHS.gov, less than 5% of adults participate in 30 minutes of physical activity each day, and only one in three adults receive the recommended amount of physical activity each week.
But this is the Florida Center for Hormones and Wellness. Aren’t we supposed to be talking about hormones? Actually, we are.
If you or someone close to you is a runner, you may be familiar with the term “runner’s high.” This is the euphoric feeling someone gets when they are exercising due to an increase in dopamine levels. Dopamine is a hormone that has been known to decrease stress and depression. It also can act as a blood pressure supporter and can improve blood flow. These are all pretty great benefits, right? And all you have to do is go for a couple of runs.
Regular exercise can also increase your serotonin levels, which is a mood stabilizing and feel-good chemical. Just like with dopamine, exercise increases your levels of serotonin. But this hormone also can aid in insomnia and sleep apnea. Here’s another statistic: About 25% of Americans experience acute insomnia each year (Science Daily). Isn’t it probable that the same 25% of the population may be a part of the more than 95% of people that don’t exercise?
It’s starting to come together…
Along with the brain-related impacts of exercise, physical activity can somatically affect your life (excluding the obvious building of muscle and losing fat). These effects come from testosterone and estrogen.
As men and women age, they both naturally experience a decrease in testosterone and estrogen, respectively. For men, this decline can impact muscle mass, sex drive, and sperm count. But guess what? Exercise can boost your levels of testosterone, too! So, take a jog, fellas.
As for the ladies, an imbalance of estrogen and menopausal symptoms can be really tough on the body. So what can you do? You guessed it: Physical activity. Have you noticed a trend yet?
As long as you are physically capable and get the go-ahead from your doctor, there is no downside to working out a couple times a week. If you aren’t feeling motivated, get a fitness buddy or join a local Facebook group to encourage you.
Get up, get moving, and get those hormone levels up! If you think you could use some help beyond diet, exercise, and proper sleep, we’re here to help. Give us a call and speak to a hormone expert today.
