22 minutes for your health

By Dr. Julia Spalding, former MESSA health director

Do you know if good mental health promotes good physical health? And does physical activity promote good mental health?

The answer to both questions is a resounding yes!

Mental health, physical health and living an active life are all intertwined.

The well-documented mental benefits of physical activity include reducing stress, depression and anxiety, while promoting more restful sleep. Physical activity also helps to enhance your brain function and boost self-esteem.

Exercise benefits nearly all aspects of health by working to increase serotonin, endorphins, dopamine and other neurotransmitters that are known to improve your general well-being.

For physical well-being, living a more active life helps to lower cortisol levels, which can improve high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, back pain, cancer risk and more.

A minimum of 150 minutes of moderate movement a week is all you need to get on track with a healthier way of living. That breaks down to just 22 minutes a day of simply moving or being active. Being active for just five minutes at a time will help you fight illness, feel better, sleep better and have more energy. It will help reduce stress, anxiety and depression, and get you on a path to a healthier lifestyle.

Find that 22 minutes a day for yourself — your mind and body will thank you for it.