Push-Ups Better Than Prozac?

Studies Show That Regular Exercise Improves Mood As Well As, If Not Better Than, Medication. 

'Swap Pills For Push-Ups' says InStyle Makeover Magazine in their September Issue in an article called 'One Week To Stress Less'.

"You simply can't beat or mimic the effect of exercise" says integrative health expert Dr. Frank Lipman. Hate sweating? Then grab a couple of 5 pound weights. Research claims strength training relieves anxiety too.

InStyle Makeover said, some other easy changes that can help you stress less and 'take the edge off' include:

(Not that we're assuming you're edgy and need this advice therefore making you more edgy but hey...)

Replacing Your Coffee With Green Tea. Coffee causes your body to produce more of the stress hormone cortisol. Tea has the opposite effect. Japanese researchers found those who drank 5 cups of tea a day felt less anxious than those who drank one.

Bathe Before Bed. A hot bath relaxes muscles and eases tension. Raising your body temperature also induces sleep.

Drink Up. Even mild dehydration can make you moody. Just a 1% dip from say a hard workout can deplete your water stores and you often don't notice until you're already dehydrated. Keep a pitcher of water wherever you spend most of your time and add lemons, cucumbers or fresh mint to make it more enticing. 

More in the September issue of InStyle Makeover Magazine.