Source:
"Ecotherapy: The Green Agenda for Mental Health." Mind. 2007. Mind. Accessed: January 15, 2008.
Outdoor Exercise
By Nancy Schimelpfening, About.com
Updated: January 29, 2008
About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board
If you're feeling depressed, try to get outdoor exercise rather than exercising inside a building. In 2007, a British charity called Mind released results of a study it commissioned on the benefits of outdoor exercise. In this study, it was found that walking in a park-like setting was more beneficial for mood and self-esteem compared to walking in a shopping center. It was unclear why this was true, although it could be the fact that the participants were getting more exposure to sunlight. Lack of sunlight has been associated with mood disorders like seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
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