10 Shocking Ways Exercise Transforms Womens Health 5 Is a Game-Changer!

From the first menstrual cycle to menopause, women experience fluctuating levels of estrogen and progesterone, which impact fertility, brain chemistry, and mood. When estrogen dropsรขโ‚ฌโ€such as before a period or leading up to menopauseรขโ‚ฌโ€so does serotonin, a key รขโ‚ฌล“feel-goodรขโ‚ฌย brain chemical. This can lead to mood swings, anxiety, and even conditions like severe PMS or postpartum depression.

Exercise helps counteract these hormonal shifts by releasing endorphins, natural mood boosters often called the รขโ‚ฌล“runnerรขโ‚ฌโ„ขs high.รขโ‚ฌย According to Dr. Horowitz, รขโ‚ฌล“Itรขโ‚ฌโ„ขs our bodyรขโ‚ฌโ„ขs way of substituting one natural chemical for another.รขโ‚ฌย For some women, this can reduce or even eliminate the need for antidepressants.

Even after menopause, when estrogen is permanently lower, exercise continues to support mental health. One study found that postmenopausal women who exercised saw an 18รขโ‚ฌโ€œ22% improvement in anxiety and depression, while those who didnรขโ‚ฌโ„ขt saw no change.

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