From the first menstrual cycle to menopause, women experience fluctuating levels of estrogen and progesterone, which impact fertility, brain chemistry, and mood. When estrogen dropsรขโฌโsuch as before a period or leading up to menopauseรขโฌโso does serotonin, a key รขโฌลfeel-goodรขโฌย 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 รขโฌลrunnerรขโฌโขs high.รขโฌย According to Dr. Horowitz, รขโฌลItรขโฌโขs our bodyรขโฌโขs way of substituting one natural chemical for another.รขโฌย 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 18รขโฌโ22% improvement in anxiety and depression, while those who didnรขโฌโขt saw no change.
