Vigorous exercise forces muscles to produce lactate, which then travels to the brain to trigger the production of key neurotransmitters such as serotonin and norepinephrine, thereby helping to better manage anxiety.

noli's read

Modern research has largely rehabilitated lactate, shifting its status from a 'metabolic waste product' to a beneficial signaling molecule. It is established that the lactate produced during intense exertion can cross the blood-brain barrier to serve as an energy substrate for the brain and modulate neurobiological processes. Studies (notably animal models and mechanistic research) suggest a link between lactate and the release of norepinephrine, as well as the expression of BDNF, a protein that promotes neuronal health. The claim that this improves stress and anxiety management is supported by observational and experimental evidence showing that regular exercise regulates the brain's stress response systems. However, the idea that lactate is the direct and exclusive trigger for serotonin remains a mechanistic simplification: while the exercise-mood link is robust, the precise pathways involving lactate are still in a phase of active scientific exploration. The advice is therefore solidly anchored in emerging physiological mechanisms but remains a simplified interpretation of a complex neurochemical network.

the sources

1. 1Hoffmann C, Weigert C 2017