The World Health Organization predicts that depression will create the second greatest burden of disease by 2020, requiring cost-effective prevention and intervention strategies. The evidence to support the benefits of exercise in offering protection from depression and as an intervention in the treatment of mental illness is growing. The literature is reviewed with 11 prospective longitudinal studies that include measures of physical activity and depression at two or more time points showing a protective effect from physical activity. Fifteen randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and three meta- analyses provide evidence that exercise can reduce depression and that it can be as effective as cognitive therapy. Four RCTs report exercise as an intervention in alcohol addiction and two RCTs in the use of illicit drugs. While many of the studies reviewed have methodological weaknesses, including lack of concealment in randomization, limited use of intention to treat and blinding, the benefits of exercise far outweigh the risks. There is evidence that exercise protects against depression and is an effective intervention and adjunctive intervention for the treatment of mild to moderate depression. Exercise provides some health and psychological benefits as an adjunct to treatment in complex mental health problems such as alcohol and drug rehabilitation. [1]
[1] MARIE E. DONAGHY
School of Health Sciences, Queen Margaret University, Leith Campus, Edinburgh
From experience, I would say activities like painting a house, or gardening aren't a substitute to running in every aspect; sure, they can clear up your mind, but you won't experience an improved cardiovascular and respiratory health, or even a "high".
When I lived in areas that had a lot of snow, I enjoyed the workout of shoveling snow. Always felt fantastic doing it and afterward, so much so that I'd often fantasize about shoveling the entire neighborhood if I had enough time.
the closest neighbours are several hundred metres away, and the garden is large and located in a very fertile area. It only gets attacked like that a couple of times a year. It's not something you'd do every night after work.
Nicotine and the increased cholinergic activity it causes have been shown to impede apoptosis, which is one of the methods by which the body destroys unwanted cells (programmed cell death). Since apoptosis helps to remove mutated or damaged cells that may eventually become cancerous, the inhibitory actions of nicotine may create a more favourable environment for cancer to develop, though this remains to be proven.
Also women who use nicotine gum and patches during the early stages of pregnancy face an increased risk of having babies with birth defects, according to a study of around 77,000 pregnant women in Denmark. The study found that women who use nicotine-replacement therapy in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy have a 60 percent greater risk of having babies with birth defects, compared to women who are non-smokers.
Nicotine is a very powerful constrictor and decreases the flow of blood to the periphery of the body. It has been measured and found that there is a 29 percent blood-flow decrease to the thumb after smoking two cigarettes.
You're right--if the school is forcing some students to take that class to lose weight, and is forcing them to follow an exercise regime, it should also force them to eat healthily. But that logic only applies to the students being forced to take the class.
Managing temptation is a part of losing weight. I've been on a new diet and exercise program for about a month now, and while I did go to Burger King today, I made way better choices (a Whopper Jr with no mayo and chicken tenders with honey mustard (total: 560 calories)) than I would have before (Whopper with a medium Coke and medium fries (total: 1440 calories). My sodium, fat, and sugar were way higher than if I cooked myself, but the calories weren't that bad. Sometimes I just want something convenient, cheap, and tasty--diet or no diet.
Walking past a KFC every day, and even going in and eating something there, can be a pretty important tool. I've found it easier to modify my lifelong habits than I have to abandon them.
They're forced to take the class, that's it. I'm not saying consistency would be requiring them to eat healthy - I don't even know how that would be possible.
Their argument was the healthy environment one. If that was consistently their intention, they would have healthier options on campus.
Right. It's hypocritical to punish students for being overweight, yet at the same time market KFC to them (or allow KFC to market to them, if you like).
Have you had any negative experiences, regarding the use of psychedelics in this respect, or is it just an assumption, based on your preconceptions, about the usage of this kind of substances?
