During the past three decades, researchers from many disciplines have been interested in whether exercise can help people to cope better with stress. Past research examining the stress buffering effects of exercise, however, is limited by small sample sizes, poorly validated measures of stress, exercise and health, and the exclusion of samples that are at-risk for chronic stress exposure. The purpose of the present study, therefore, was to address these limitations by exploring the stress buffering effects of exercise and fitness in a sample of police and emergency response service officers. Design: The design of the current study is cross-sectional. Method: The current study recruited 533 employees of the police force and emergency response service corps in an urban area of German-speaking, North-Western Switzerland (22.9% females). All respondents filled in a self-administered battery of validated questionnaires assessing stress, exercise, perceived fitness and health. Results: The data showed that increased stress was associated with poorer health. There was no significant relationship between exercise and stress; however, increased fitness was associated with reduced stress. Exercise and fitness were associated with enhanced health. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed significant interactions, suggesting that exercise protects against stress-related health problems. Exercise was a more powerful stress buffer than perceived physical fitness. Moreover, moderate exercise was more suited to counteract stress than vigorous exercise activities. Conclusions: The findings indicate that exercise and fitness can help foster a healthy and thriving workforce that takes less sick leaves and feels better prepared to cope with chronic stress.

Psychology of Sport and Exercise, Volume 11, Issue 4, July 2010, Pages 286-294

Exercise can buffer the effects of stress-induced cell aging, according to new research from UCSF that revealed actual benefits of physical activity at the cellular level.

The scientists learned that vigorous physical activity as brief as 42 minutes over a 3-day period, similar to federally recommended levels, can protect individuals from the effects of stress by reducing its impact on telomere length. Telomeres (pronounced TEEL-oh-meres) are tiny pieces of DNA that promote genetic stability and act as protective sheaths by keeping chromosomes from unraveling, much like plastic tips at the ends of shoelaces.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-05/uoc–ber052510.php

Exercise is a magic drug for many people with depression and anxiety disorders, and it should be more widely prescribed by mental health care providers, according to researchers who analyzed the results of numerous published studies.  Click here to read article.  

If you’re the type of person who invokes the “not enough time” clause when it comes to exercising, it’s time to find a new excuse. Researchers who have been studying interval training have found that it not only takes less time than what is typically recommended, but the regimen does not have to be “all out” to be effective in helping reduce the risk of such diseases at Type 2 diabetes. Click here to read the article.

An experiment was conducted with 48 healthy young adults engaged in a supervised 10-week exercise program to determine whether a placebo effect is involved within the exercise-psychological enhancement connection. Based on an expectancy modification procedure, one-half of the subjects were led to believe that their program was specifically designed to improve psychological well-being (experimental condition) whereas no such intervention was made with the second half (control condition). Expectations for psychological benefits and aerobic capacity (VO(2max)) were measured before and after completion of the program. Self-esteem, as the indicator of psychological well-being, was measured on four specific occasions: at the beginning, after the fourth and seventh weeks, and upon completion of the training program. The results showed similar significant increases in fitness levels in both conditions. Moreover, self-esteem was significantly improved over time in the experimental but not in the control condition. These findings provide evidence to support the notion that exercise may enhance psychological well- being via a strong placebo effect.
Psychosomatic Medicine, Volume 55, Issue 2, 1993, Pages 149-154

Eating a “heart healthy” diet and maintaining or increasing participation in moderate physical activity may help preserve our memory and thinking abilities as we age. Click here to read the article.

When it comes to boosting your mood, exercise is the gift that keeps on giving and giving, new research suggests. In fact, the feel-good afterglow a workout brings may last far beyond the hour or so that’s been previously assumed. Click here to read the article.

Consuming a low GI breakfast increases fat oxidation during subsequent exercise and improved satiety during recovery in sedentary females. As such, individuals trying to shed fat may consider choosing LGI foods eaten prior to when they exercise. Click here to read the article.

The Journal of Nutrition, May 2009

When participants performed a mentally fatiguing task prior to a difficult exercise test, they reached exhaustion more quickly than when they did the same exercise when mentally rested. Click here to read the article.

Journal of Applied Physiology, March 2009

When it comes to the hippocampus, a brain structure vital to certain types of memory, size matters. Numerous studies have shown that bigger is usually better. Now researchers have found that elderly adults who are more physically fit tend to have bigger hippocampi and better spatial memory than those who are less fit. Click here to read the article.

Hippocampus - March 2009