We all know that exercise, and more importantly regular exercise that is done on a normal basis, is good for our health and mental health on so many levels that it makes it almost a moot point when trying to weight the pros and cons. Well, I guess you could say the only con is that it takes time out of your schedule, because there really are no other cons, unless you are really sick, which is the only time experts recommend you do not work out, or you have some sort of serious injuries.
A huge reason to exercise is that it can have dramatic results on the levels of cortisol in your blood stream. Cortisol is a natural hormone that occurs in the body, and it’s fine to be in the body when it is at normal levels, but the problem is that cortisol, dubbed the “stress hormone”, skyrockets during times of extreme duress or mental stress, and this has been linked to many problems, including as a contributor to weight gain and obesity, so it’s a very detrimental hormone to us in quantities that surpass what’s considered “normal”.
Right now, as I sit typing this article, I can feel the levels of cortisol are higher in me, because I have not been able to work out for the past few days. It’s almost a sort of tightness in the chest that occurs when your stress levels are high, and that’s a really bad sign, since the chest area is where the heart is and we all know that stress, and lots of it is a sign that there may be heart trouble down the way. Many medical experts believe that high stress is linked very solidly to heart attacks and even strokes, and that the control of cortisol is a key component to managing heart problems and preventing cardiac arrest.
One of my favorite exercise regimens to prevent high cortisol levels is yoga. Especially a variety called Ashtanga, where you move very quickly but also very fluidly. It gets the heart rate up and gets some of that bottled stress out, but it also has a very calming effect on the body and the mind at the same time. I especially love doing yoga and then getting in the infrared sauna, since it is like being at a spa and getting a massage, but also an incredibly invigorating workout at the same time. That is one of my ultimate cortisol busters.
This entry was posted on Sunday, June 22nd, 2008 at 10:21 am and is filed under Health and Fitness News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.