Different types of exercise can stimulate the production of the four primary brain chemicals:

• Dopamine: Exercise has been linked to stimulating the dopamine pleasure and satisfaction circuits. This may explain why some people are actually addicted to exercise. You may have experienced that satisfied feeling when you are exercising. Some describe it as a “runner’s high” or have heard it linked to the release of pleasure producing hormones, such as endorphins. These are the same hormones that are released during sex. A dopamine-enhancing workout should feature aerobic activity followed by weight training every day, if possible. This combination will give you the energy you may be lacking.

• Acetylcholine: Although you may have the best intentions about exercise, it’s quite possible you spend more time thinking about it when you’ll do it than actually getting around to working out. Studies have shown aerobic exercise can restore acetylcholine. You’ll need at least half an hour of aerobic exercise every day to increase your acetylcholine levels.

• GABA: If you are GABA deficient, one of your daily goals should be to use aerobic exercise as a form of relaxation. One of my favorite forms of exercise for increasing GABA is Pilates. It may sound counterintuitive, but physical exercise as a tranquilizer and it actually helps to restore your GABA imbalance. Many low- GABA individuals have trouble getting involved with exercise. But once you experience the high of exercise and the relaxation state that it produces, you’ll realize what you’ve been missing.

• Serotonin: Just as getting good sleep provides that opportunity for your brain to reset, the same can be said for exercise: Physical movement—whether aerobic or anaerobic—helps to reset the brain and release serotonin. I always tell my patients to balance an aggressive workout with some brain exercise. In the case of low serotonin, you won’t need to work on crossword puzzles or Sudoku. Instead, you might consider incorporating prayer, yoga, meditation, and/or chanting into your weekly routine. All of these activities boost serotonin and an overall feeling of serenity.

What chemicals are you deficient in?

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Dr. Braverman has developed a series of questions that open a window into your body and mind by looking at how the different areas of your body age.

Many systems of the body are characterized as having aging codes and aging parts. The Age Print Quiz can tell us a lot about how and where your body is aging and how to prevent disease and repair damage.

This test allows you to look at all areas of your body, picking up any symptoms of disease in the early stages. The secret to effective health care is to catch any issues early to prevent hospital stays, surgery or near death events.

The Age Print Quiz gives us many clues to your health by looking at brain function, sensory perception, sleep patterns, mood, memory, weight gain or loss, skin condition, sexual drive, digestion, and stress levels. The answers you give are a vital piece of your health picture.