6 Unexpected Mental Health Benefits of Exercise

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Who said that working out is only good for your body? 

You better believe it’s not the case when scientists say that working out is good for your mind as it is for your body. 

They’ve found a link between improved physical fitness and good mental health, proving that “Look good and feel good” is more than just a catchphrase

Boost endorphins

While you’re working up a sweat on the treadmill, you’re also releasing endorphins, which create the feelings of happiness and euphoria. 

People suffering from depression or anxiety are prescribed by their doctors to hit the gym frequently because studies have shown that exercise can alleviate symptoms among the clinically depressed. 

As little as 30 minutes spent exercising a few times a week can get rid of the blues. In another research, it was found out that exercise is just as effective as antidepressant pills in treating depression.

Improve self-esteem

Knowing that you’re sticking to your gym schedule is enough to feel better about yourself. 

You’re working towards your goal – staying fit, losing weight, bulking up – can boost self-confidence and self-image. This extends beyond the gym and into your real life. 

When you’re feeling good about yourself, you can be a positive ray of sunshine for people you interact with. 

Helps control addiction

Along with dopamine, the brain also releases dopamine, the “pleasure” chemical that’s released due to pleasure from high addictive stuff like drugs, exercise, sex, alcohol or food. 

Because dopamine is also released during exercise, studies have tried to find a way for addicts to derive pleasure from this instead of alcohol or drugs. 

And it works, at least in the short team. 

Short bursts of exercise distracted drug and alcohol addicts and curbed their cravings. And because alcohol disrupts the sleeping patterns,  alcoholics resort to drinking to sleep. 

Exercise reboots the body clock so it instinctively knows when it’s time to hit the hay. 

Slows down cognitive degradation

As we get older, diseases like Alzheimer’s kills off brain cells that perform vital brain functions. 

Such is the way of life. 

However, frequent exercise and a healthy diet can slow down the decline that happens after your 45th birthday. 

Working out between 25-45 is crucial because it boosts the hormones that prevent the degradation of hippocampus, the brain’s center for memory and function.

Stress relief

After a bad day at the office, the best way to let off some steam is by hitting the gym. Getting yourself to work up a sweat increases the presence of norepinephrine, the brain’s natural response to stress. 

Plus, unlike eating out or a round of drinks, working out won’t cost you much or give you a hangover the next day. 

Be more productive

How has a walk around the block solved the question that stumped you at work? 

Exercise gets your brain juices flowing because of a simple reason: when you’re working out you’re pumping oxygen-rich blood throughout your body, especially to your brain. And that’s not just it. 

According to research, people who take the time to exercise regularly are more productive and energetic than those who don’t. If you find it hard to squeeze in gym time before leaving for work, doing it in the evenings might be better for you.

immune system

Boosting Your Immune System with Chiropractic Care

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Boosting Your Immune System with Chiropractic Care

Though Spring often brings milder temperatures, it also brings with it a host of allergies, colds, and other illnesses. These can make us question whether our immune system is working the way it should. Our lifestyles can play a large role in how healthy we feel through the the year. Staying on top of annual physicals and incorporating regular chiropractic visits can be the key to feeling your best.

And, to do this will require you to pay particular attention to your immune system.

What is the role of the immune system?

To stay in great health, your immune system must work quickly to eliminate any foreign particles or viruses that may get into your body. Its main role is to fight off infections and keep them from wreaking havoc on our other body systems. To do this, you want to be sure your immune cells are as strong as they can be. Because when they are not, your risk of getting (and staying) sick increases exponentially.

How can I naturally boost my immune system?

Your diet plays a large role in the health of your immune system. Getting ample rest and staying active through regular exercise are also ways that you can give your immune system a boost. recent Research points to chiropractic adjustments as being an additional way to ensure your immune cells are ready to protect you.

Although many people associate chiropractic treatments as only needed to alleviate back or neck pain, these treatments can actually help improve a host of conditions, including seasonal allergies, ear infections, even bedwetting. That is because chiropractic treatments adjust the spine to ensure that it is not misaligned. When the spine is misaligned, it disrupts the connections traveling between the nervous system to all of the other body systems. When this is corrected using soothing chiropractic sessions, the nervous system is able to restore these critical connections. And, when your nervous system is functioning properly, you are able to increase the number of immune cells and their response rate to ensure you are able to fight off any infection, bacteria, or virus you may encounter.

It is recommended to visit your chiropractor, once every three months. During these sessions, they will be able to assess your spinal alignment and recommend a course of treatment to keep your spine and posture in perfect alignment.

If you have not seen a chiropractor this year, then now is the time to make an appointment. With 7 convenient Atlanta-area locations, Corrective Chiropractic is able to offer its patients the highest level of quality care to keep them healthy all year round. Click here to schedule a free back evaluation session.

stress

Manage Your Pre-Holiday Stress By Visiting a Chiropractor

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Manage Your Pre-Holiday Stress By Visiting a Chiropractor

As the weather changes and the daylight hours get shorter, work responsibilities begin to pile up. The chaotic hustle and bustle of the holidays start to creep in. We all naturally get stress.

In fact, according to psychologists, the average level of stress during the Fall months is the highest of all seasons. And, with more stress comes more strain on your body. How you handle that wear and tear on your body can mean the difference between making it to Summer feeling rejuvenated or nursing discomfort and pain that seems to be getting worse.

Here are the top three reasons why visiting your chiropractor is the best way for you to handle the pre-holiday stress:

Eliminate Muscle Tension from Stress

When you encounter stress, your muscles naturally tense up. This can impact how you walk, sit and perform tasks throughout your day. And, if left uncorrected, this can start to wreak havoc on your ability to sleep, exercise, and just enjoy life. Having a chiropractic alignment helps to restore your body’s natural functioning. It also loosens the tension building up in your body.

Get Your Body Back on Track

Your body’s functioning is rooted in your central nervous system. And, if your spine is not in alignment, your nervous system is negatively impacted. This can manifest itself in digestive, respiratory, immune, and even sleep issues that may not be easily corrected. An experienced chiropractor will be able to perform non-invasive and all natural procedures to get your spine back in alignment and your body running on all cylinders.

Fix Your Posture for Improved Health and Less Stress

With mobile devices being an integral part of our day, how we sit and the length of time we spend sitting have played a role in how our muscles and skeletal system function. “Text neck” puts extreme strain on your neck muscles and can lead to crotched posture and further back discomfort. Having the proper posture as you may spend more time seated, through the Fall and Winter months can be the best way to help you manage your spine health. A well-trained chiropractor will be able to evaluate your posture, adjust it, and help you stay healthy and energized through the holidays.

When is the last time you visited a chiropractor? 

If it has been longer than 6 months, then now is the time to schedule an appointment! The friendly doctors at Corrective Chiropractic will be happy to give you a free phone call and answer any questions you may have.

You deserve to be stress-free (or at least pain-free) now and through the end of the year!