Exercise also increases levels of other neurotransmitters, glutamate and GABA, that are often depleted in people with depression and anxiety.132 Additional mood-enhancing molecules turned on by exercise include endogenous opioids such as endorphins and endocannabinoids that inhibit pain and produce positive moods.133 Finally, as if this were not enough, remember that physical activity increases levels of BDNF and other growth factors that help maintain brain function.
