What you’re about to read is not new, it is something that we all have felt before and we long suspected it and now science proves it.
None of us can deny or even explain the fact that we feel better after any form of exercise.
Why do we get this good feeling and our mood changes for the better even after a sweaty run or a painful workout at the gym?
What is the relationship between good mental health and exercise?
Is there real evidence that working out improves mental health or do we just say that to make ourselves feel better?
The Hope Molecules
The relationship between exercise and mental health has baffled researchers for a long time. Is there a scientific reason behind it?
The answer is YES! So what exactly happens?
When you perform any physical activity, your muscles contract. As a result, they release a lot of chemicals inside your bloodstream.
Among these chemicals is a mind-blowing class of molecules known as Myokines.
These Myokines are referred to as “The Hope Molecules”
What Are Myokines?
Myokines are small proteins released when your muscles contract during physical activity.
Previously, it was thought that muscles only served in movement and the notion that they were a dynamic organ was met with skepticism.
However, research has shown that muscles are endocrine organs as well, this is because these Myokines have a hormone-like action; they communicate with organs and tissues throughout the body.
Functions of Myokines:
These small proteins cross the blood-brain barrier producing many effects. This connection between the brain and muscles is called “Muscle-Brain Cross-Talk”
Here are a few examples:
1- Irisin
It is one of the most well-studied myokines. It converts the white fat cells into brown fat cells which are easier to break helping you lose weight and improving your metabolism.
But the interesting part about Irisin is that it goes to your brain and acts as a natural anti-depressant improving your mood and giving you a relaxed state of mind.
2- Interleukin-6 (IL-6)
Another myokine is Interleukin-6. When released during exercise, it produces anti-inflammatory effects.
3- BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor)
Another myokine is called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).
This is responsible for enhancing your learning and memory processes, neuroprotection, cognitive function, and mood regulation.
Excercise = Hope
You can now understand why these molecules are called “Hope Molecules”
When we’re feeling down, we tend to waste time watching movies or scrolling on social media watching others live their best lives.
The solution now is in your hands or better to say, inside your muscles.
Get moving, whether going for a long walk or finding a community gym or a yoga class.
Try to release as much myokines as you can from your muscles and you’ll certainly feel more hopeful afterward.