Stress and exercise -

Harness the power of your body's Natural Opium to get that high and reduce your stress level!

Stress and exercise are like bacon and egg, you can't have one without the other.

Remember that stress actually activates your 'fight or flight' response?

Well, exercise helps to manage stress because if you are under stress and exercise, it negates that response and actually gives you an outlet to 'blow off steam'.

Feeling 'high' after exercise

Now what are the benefits if you exercise?

I'm sure you have tried jogging at one time or another. After a jogging session, do you find yourself all flushed, with your heart pumping fast and at the same time feeling a weird sense of 'high'?

This 'high' that you had experienced after a workout is due to your brain producing a powerful opium-like substance called 'endorphins', this is the one that gives you that 'high'.

Together with this, a whole host of hormones are released. These hormones is essential to prevent the following: depression, anxiety, aggression and other ailments.

A whole lot of benefits from exercise

If you are under stress and exercise, you'll have improved circulation, which means better toxic clearance and more nutrients being pumped to your brain. This has the effect of giving you an active and clear mind .

If you are constantly sick, you would want to know about this. Not only does exercise build up your skeletal and muscular system, the most important benefit of all is it stregthens your immune system, which is the one that helps your body fight against sickness.

Exercise also strengthens your heart by ensuring that it is able to pump the amount of blood necessary for optimum health. A strong heart is also better able to cope with the demands of stress.

What to do now?

The next time you are under stress and exercise is on your mind...

My advice is to pick any form of exercise that you enjoy doing. You do not have to spend time and money investing in a gym membership just to get a decent workout. Any activities that gives your heart a good workout is good enough.

If you not have much time to go to the gym, you could try doing some housework (eg. mowing the lawn, cleaning the pool, washing your car). These can give quite good results and at the same time get things done in the house. How's that for killing two birds with one stone?

Alright, please do not go out immediately and start pounding the pavement or start hoisting heavy barbells with your new found enthusiasm!

If you have not been exercising for some time, you should start with gentle activities like Brisk walking, Yoga or Tai Chi.