Exercise can change how your body handles stress by rewiring the system that controls cortisol, the stress hormone.

Pro

Against

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (4)

Community contributions welcome

Physical Activity and Cortisol Regulation: A Meta-Analysis.

Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis

Human

2023 Apr

Acute effects of physical activity patterns on plasma cortisol and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in relation to corticospinal excitability.

Cross-Sectional Study

Human

2022 Jul 26

Effects of physical training on the metabolic profile of rats exposed to chronic restraint stress

Randomized Controlled Trial

Animal

2024

Hypothalamic Crh/Avp, Plasmatic Glucose and Lactate Remain Unchanged During Habituation to Forced Exercise

Cross-Sectional Study

Animal

2020

Contradicting (0)

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No contradicting evidence found

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Similar Assertions

When a person engages in aerobic exercise lasting more than 15 minutes, their body shows an increase in cortisol levels, which is a hormone released in response to physical stress.

74%

People who move more during the day tend to have healthier stress hormone patterns, with cortisol dropping more naturally as the day goes on — a sign their body handles stress better.

70%