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BSC Weekly: More Sweat, Less Depression
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| Tuesday, 07 September 2010 - Written by DaveBSC
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| Mental health experts have long recommended exercise to help combat depression. New research from the University of Texas Southwest Medical Center at Dallas shows that biking and jogging can banish the blues just as effectively as pharmaceuticals. In the recent study, 80 people with mild to moderate depression used a treadmill or stationary bike for 30 to 40 minutes, three to five times a week.
After just 12 weeks, people that were experiencing symptoms, such as insomnia and anxiety, had decreased by 47 percent -- an improvement comparable to those seen with antidepressants. Study author Madhukar Trivedi, MD, believes that working out may prompt the release of serotonin, a neurochemical that can also be stimulated by medication. Trivedi says that although a high-intensity workout (about 75 to 80 percent of maximum heart rate) produced the best results, even those who simply walked or stretched saw some improvement. His study demonstrates doing anything physical can lift your mood.
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