It has been known that running can improve cardiovascular health, help build and tone muscles, boost the immune system, and improve blood sugar levels. Most people run to lose weight and improve their overall fitness level.
Running also makes people happy, referred to as runner's high. Although runners could not always put a finger on what exactly makes them feel better after running. But they agree that running makes them feel happier and healthier, which is a factor that makes them want to keep doing it.
Shoe brand Asics has put a number on it by using EEGs attached to elite and amateur athletes to find out the relationship between mental health and physical well-being, Yahoo! reported.
Using EEG to Prove Running Makes People Happy
Asics recruited Dr. Brendan Stubbs from Kings College London to put some numbers in the claim that running makes people happy. He explores the relationship between mental health and physical well-being by using a portable EEG from Emotiv that can be worn while moving around.
The portable EEG is strapped on to three elite athletes and six everyday athletes, or amateurs that exercise for at least 150 minutes a week that still looks pretty fit. The participants were asked to wear the headset at rest to develop a baseline while undergoing cognitive tests. Then they were asked to run for 20 minutes before the tests were re-run, the news outlet reported.
The results showed an 18% increase in ability to relax among the runners, a 28% drop in rash decision making, and a 29% improvement in resilience.
Moreover, they also observed a 58% reduction in signs of cognitive stress, such as anxiety, disorganization, and forgetfulness. In fact, they have recorded a 26% increase in brain data processing speed and a 21% improvement in memory.
More so, Stubbs said that the benefits of running were greater to non-athlete individuals than professional athletes. He suspects that since the professionals have already mastered running as their sport, they had to do less brain work while running. Additionally, he said that running in groups than in isolation is better, although more study is needed to explore further.
ALSO READ Running : A Unique Therapy for Anxiety and Depression
Why Running Makes People Happy
Running makes people happy because it releases endorphins in the brain that triggers feelings of euphoria. Endorphins make a person more energetic and more awake as it is considered a natural painkiller that minimizes the discomfort a person might be feeling.
Aside from triggering the feelings of euphoria running is also great for the general well-being of a person. Euphoria could also be triggered by the hormone leptin, according to researchers from the University of Montreal.
Leptin levels fall while running, which gives the rewarding feeling of running or exercise. It may be fleeting, but some extra happiness could mean a difference for many. According to Orthology, a study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that greater long-term happiness is linked to regular leisure physical activity.
Check out more news and information on Running and Mental Health on Science Times.
