Regular, disciplined exercise can be one of the most effective ways to manage your immune system and overall health and well-being. When implemented correctly, it improves circulation and produces chemicals such as endorphins and other happy hormones that enhance healthy brain and body function.
Happy Hormones
- Dopamine: pleasure, motivational role in the brain’s decision making, and reward system.
- Serotonin: mood stabiliser, wellbeing, happiness.
- Endorphins: Pain relief, runner’s high, relaxation
- Oxytocin: Bonding, love, trust
A very important note to always take into full consideration at all times is when it is best to exercise, how to exercise, and what exercises are best suited for circulation and general health.
Here are a few tips to help integrate the appropriate routine into your life.
- Walking is scientifically proven as one of the best forms of exercise for circulation and aiding the digestion of our food after a meal. Regular cardiovascular and weight training exercise is a good way to increase both the sympathetic and parasympathetic activity in our body.
- Although exercise increases sympathetic activity in the body during physical activity, exercise has longer-term benefits on parasympathetic activity, helping us to stay calmer as we go about our daily life.
- The parasympathetic nervous system is one of three divisions of the autonomic nervous system. Sometimes called the rest and digest system. The parasympathetic system conserves energy as it slows the heart rate, increases intestinal and gland activity, and relaxes sphincter muscles in the gastrointestinal tract.
- The sympathetic nervous system prepares the body for the “fight or flight” response during any potential danger.
- Walking, and other forms of exercise, allow our bodies to do what they were made for.
