Move! It will help your mental health and boost immunity

David Raichlen, a USC expert on exercise and human evolution, is in the same boat as anyone whose county or state have enacted a stay-at-home mandate to reduce the spread of infection. It can make you feel trapped. He has this advice for boosting both mental and physical health:

"These are highly stressful times, with anxiety levels increasing, and few outlets to help us maintain our mental health. One thing we can do, even when we are housebound, is to engage in physical activity and exercise. Exercise is not only good for your physical health and immune system, but exercise can play a key role in improving mental health. In fact, recent work has shown that exercise can be an effective treatment option for mild depression and anxiety disorders.

"Why does exercise affect your psychological state? One possibility is that exercise increases the activity of neurotransmitters like endorphins and endocannabinoids which are associated with reductions in stress and improvements in mood. These neurotransmitters activate the same receptors as drugs like opioids and marijuana, but with milder effects that can lead to more general feelings of well-being in most people.

"How can you take advantage of these effects? Moderate intensity aerobic exercise is the most commonly studied activity shown to activate these systems. A brisk walk or jog will do it, and will get you outside (while keeping a safe 6 feet of distance from others). You know you’re at a moderate intensity if you can talk but not sing. If you can only manage a few words without having to catch your breath, you are going too hard."