Not only does exercise fight negative chemicals, but it also gives you a boost of positive chemicals like endorphins. In a rat study at the University of Wisconsin (2013), a group of rats exercising on an exercise wheel and another group that was inactive were observed over time (Wang, Chen, Zhang, Ma, 2013). When rats were exposed to stress, those who exercised released a measurable amount of norepinephrine in the brain. Norepinephrine is a hormone that produces adrenaline. In other words, rats subjected to exercise had a healthier response to the stressful event (Wang, Chen, Zhang, Ma, 2013). The key to supporting health in a simpler way is to create more "happy" chemicals like endorphins, which happens by exercising and releasing the good and destroying the bad. Benefits of Social Exercise Humans' natural desire to interact with each other can also benefit from the benefits of physical activity. For example, playing a sport or joining a club that involves physical activity can lead to finding people who have similar tastes and hobbies to yours. Belonging to a group makes you feel more secure with yourself and more at ease in human relationships. Researchers at the University of Michigan collected questionnaire responses on diet, exercise, leadership and empathy from 709 sixth-grade public school children. The children were moved into three different groups and compared for leadership (Nauert, 2010). Middle school children scored highest in leadership skills when they averaged more than 20 minutes of physical exercise per day. There was also a correlation between high empathy scores (Nauert, 2010). The results demonstrate that the more physical activity performed, the greater the possibility of increasing leadership and empathy. however, even with this information, people choose not to act. If everyone has a clear understanding of the benefits of exercise, then why are illness, stress and fatigue so prevalent in our society? There is an answer and it is simple. We know what to do, we're just not doing it and we're not doing it enough. If people aren't functioning like the well-oiled machines we're supposed to be, the best way to combat negative physical, social, biological, and mental health is with exercise. Whether you're a stay-at-home mom or a busy college student, exercise can relieve temporary stressors and provide you with long-term health benefits. When exercise finally becomes an important aspect of everyone's lifestyle, the numbers will drop and we will be happier, healthier individuals living together.