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higher energy levels
Studies have shown that people who exercise and eat healthy foods regularly have <anchor>higher energy levels</anchor> when compared to those who don’t. And having more energy means you will be able to spend more of it on completing your tasks, projects, and activities in a more productive and stress-free manner.
Does exercise really boost energy levels? - Harvard Health
Does exercise really boost energy levels? - Harvard Health

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# Does exercise really boost energy levels?

July 1, 2021By [Toni Golen, MD](https://www.health.harvard.edu/authors/toni-golen-md),

Editor in Chief, _Harvard Women's Health Watch;_ Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor, and
[Hope Ricciotti, MD](https://www.health.harvard.edu/authors/hope-ricciotti-md),

Editor at Large, _Harvard Women's Health Watch_

## Ask the doctors

**Q.** _I've been feeling tired lately. My doctor suggested I exercise more. How will this help my energy level? Won't it make me feel more tired?_

**A.** It might sound strange, but it's true that moving more can help give you more energy, through several mechanisms.

To begin with, cellular-level changes occur inside your body when you exercise. Exertion spurs your body to produce more mitochondria inside your muscle cells. Mitochondria are known as the powerhouses of cells, because they create fuel out of glucose from the food you eat and oxygen from the air you breathe. Having more of them increases your body's energy supply.

Exercising also boosts oxygen circulation inside your body. This increase in oxygen not only supports the mitochondria's energy production, it allows your body to function better and to use its energy more efficiently. Plus, your body gets a boost from an exercise-induced increase in hormone levels that makes you feel more energized.

In addition to helping your body create and use energy, regular exercise promotes better nighttime sleep. Deep sleep is crucial to your overall health and to feeling well rested and energetic when you wake up in the morning.

## About the Authors

![photo of Toni Golen, MD](https://d2icykjy7h7x7e.cloudfront.net/authors/haxYxpqrKxwVB1iiDOquBesixqPGXr5laTbW4CFG.jpg)

Toni Golen, MD,
Editor in Chief, _Harvard Women's Health Watch;_ Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor


Dr. Toni Golen is a physician specializing in obstetrics and gynecology, practicing in Boston. Dr. Golen completed her residency training at George Washington University Medical Center in 1995, and is an associate professor at Harvard Medical …
[See Full Bio](https://www.health.harvard.edu/authors/toni-golen-md)

[View all posts by Toni Golen, MD](https://www.health.harvard.edu/authors/toni-golen-md)

![photo of Hope Ricciotti, MD](https://d2icykjy7h7x7e.cloudfront.net/authors/Pf5aKOChTks7A7zU8u1DIWKmrpBqrPJZ1JFyMVLp.png)

Hope Ricciotti, MD,
Editor at Large, _Harvard Women's Health Watch_

Dr. Hope A. Ricciotti is Editor at Large of Harvard Women’s Health Watch. She is an associate professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology at Harvard Medical School, and leads the department of obstetrics, gynecology, and …
[See Full Bio](https://www.health.harvard.edu/authors/hope-ricciotti-md)

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## Boosting Your Energy

Fatigue is a symptom, not a disease, and it’s experienced differently by different people. Fatigue from stress or lack of sleep usually subsides after a good night’s rest, while other fatigue is more persistent and may be debilitating even after restful sleep. Harvard’s Special Health Report _Boosting Your Energy_ provides advice and information from world-renowned medical experts that can help you discover the cause of your fatigue and find the right treatment or lifestyle changes.

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