Two Chemical Signals are Involved in the Exercise: Cortisol and Endorphins.
There are clear benefits to long term exercise: reducing blood pressure, improve strength and endurance, reduce the risk of cancer, stroke and diabetes. This is not a happy pill, and some experts believe that this exercise must be intense and anaerobic in order to be effective, but exercise is definitely part of the equation. Many people forget or ignore the benefits of exercise.
Two chemical signals are involved in the exercise: cortisol and endorphins.
Cortisol is a hormone released when the body is under stress such as anger, anxiety or fear, and can cause inflammation in our body. Exercise burns cortisol and that makes us people happier and healthier. Endorphins are molecules related to the morphine they enter the brain and bind to receptors that normally send pain signaling molecules to other parts of the brain. Some researchers say that endorphins are even more powerful than opiate drugs such as morphine and opium (binding to the same receptors). Exercise stimulates then production of endorphins. A single session of 20-30 minutes at 80% of your ability can feel the benefits of these endorphins. Then, after several sessions, the habit is taken. Some researchers believe that the benefits vary depending on the type of exercise: for them, a session was certainly a moderate action on health, but not release of endorphins.