by Paola Fanutti

Created on: August 08, 2008   Last Updated: December 18, 2008

Regular physical exercise is an absolute must to control weight, maintain aerobic fitness, muscle tone and high metabolism. Exercise is also a well known stress reliever, and moderate physical activity actually releases mood-enhancing endorphins into the body, natural pain-killers that actually help alleviate physical and mental pain, making exercise an excellent natural remedy to many health ailments.

In fact, studies show that exercise is great physical and mental therapy and consistent physical fitness helps curb and control a wide variety of health problems, sometimes even better than conventional drug treatments.

*Exercise Helps Relieve Depression*

Clinical studies continue to demonstrate that exercise alleviates anxiety and boosts our mood, aiding in the treatment of mild depression. Aerobic exercise also releases epinephrine, substances that create feelings of happiness and excitement. Physically active people are known to recover from mild depression more rapidly than sedentary people.

Exercise, the body's natural painkiller, can be just as effective at curing depression as anti-depressant drug treatment. In a controlled study of 156 patients at Duke University, depression sufferers who maintained a regular exercise program improved symptoms as well as patients taking anti-depressants. The likely reason? A brain chemical released during exercise called PEA phenylethylamine, a stimulant produced by the body, which has amazing and natural anti-depressant properties.

*Exercise Can Alleviate Allergy Symptoms*

A well planned and moderate exercise program boosts aerobic fitness and helps the body become fitter and stronger, and more resilient to allergy symptoms. Over time, a consistent exercise program can help sufferers reduce their dependence on allergy medication. While outdoor exercise is a possible allergy trigger for people with aggressive allergies, physical exercise can control and ease allergic reactions in some people by regulating the body's autonomic system, which controls heart and respiration rate, perspiration and salivation, as well as allergic reactions.

*Exercise Cures Insomnia*

Despite the dozens of over the counter sleep aids and medications sold at pharmacies, exercise remains a great cure for insomnia. Although working out a few hours before bedtime will likely keep you more alert and awake, exercising in the morning or mid-afternoon can actually help you fall asleep at night.

Researchers at the University of Stanford found that moderate exercise

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