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Exercise releases endorphins for mood improvement from "summary" of Habits of a Happy Brain by Loretta Graziano Breuning
When you move your muscles, they release endorphins, which are molecules that communicate pleasure to your brain. This is why exercise is often recommended as a way to improve your mood. Endorphins are not magical mood lifters, but they are one of the four happy chemicals produced in response to survival-related activities. They evolved to reward you with a good feeling when you do something that promotes survival. Endorphins are the brain's way of saying, "You did something right! Keep doing it!" Endorphins are released by other activities that promote survival too, like eating and socializing. But in the wild, our ancestors were active all day, unlike us. So we got hooked on the endorphin rush of exercise. That's why we have to try to get that feeling even though we don't need to work hard for food or safety. Exercise is a potent source of the endorphins that make you feel good. The more vigorously you move, the more endorphins you release. Endorphins are not the only happy chemical. There are three other happy chemicals too: dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin. Each of these has a role, and each can help you feel good. But each of them also has a downside. When you know how your happy chemicals work, you have a better chance of managing them. The good news is that you can activate your happy chemicals without spending a lot of time or money.- You can start to take control of your mood and improve your overall well-being. Regular exercise can be a simple and effective way to boost your mood and increase your happiness levels. So the next time you're feeling down, consider going for a walk, hitting the gym, or engaging in any physical activity that gets your heart rate up. Your brain will thank you for it.
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