What Exercise Does

Exercise is a proven performer for mood boosting. It has the biological benefits of: 

• Releasing endorphins and neurotransmitters, which are related to pleasure and reward.
• Cutting back on chemicals that can make you more depressed.
• Increasing your circulation, to give you more focus and mental clarity.

The aggression that we tend to associate with those who are walking walls of muscle comes from increased levels of testosterone, a hormone that is intrinsically linked to aggressive behavior. What you may not know is that lower levels of testosterone can effect your mood as well.

With low testosterone, you may be dealing with:

• Decreased libido.
• Diminished appetite.
• Increased body fat.
• Inability to concentrate.

In other words, you'll be dealing with far more problems by a lack of exercise than you will when you decide to hit the gym. Additionally, supplementing your regimen with mood-boosting herbal combinations could have increased results in combination with a good work out.

Where Diet Plays a Role

We've already discussed some of the important minerals and molecules associated with mood, including carbohydrates. It should be no surprise, then, that changing your diet can have a serious impact on how you feel every day. Dramatic changes can make you irritable, especially if those changes involve cutting carbs out of your diet. Carbohydrates are a facilitator for serotonin production, so their absence is definitely noted by your brain when it comes to calculating your mood.

Another concern is not getting enough calories or fat in your diet. Many first-time dieters think that the quickest way to lower waist size is to simply cut back on the amount of food that you eat, and while this can have some benefits depending on your usual caloric intake for the day, it can also mean changing your brain's chemistry.

Whenever you're hungry, your brain actually receives signals which cause your serotonin levels to fluctuate. If you've ever had a friend, spouse, or relative who has suddenly become sour due to an empty stomach, now you know why. Another issue is that of fat, which is an important chemical chain for keeping our brains working and healthy.

Without the vital fats found in fish, beans, and other sources, we get an impaired neuron function, which can lead to irritability, lack of focus, and poor mood. While common knowledge may say that “fat is bad,” the truth is that most natural fats can actually be quite beneficial in terms of maintaining your mental discipline to get fit and trim.