Moderate cycling boosts endocannabinoids and mood more than yoga or stretching

In a randomized 88-participant study, moderate-intensity cycling raised the endocannabinoid AEA in the blood, while low-intensity cycling, yoga, and stretching did not change AEA or 2-AG and did not elevate BDNF in any condition. Psychologically, all four activities reduced negative emotion and state anxiety, with moderate cycling, yoga, and stretching also increasing positive mood (low-intensity cycling showed no significant positive affect). Increases in AEA correlated with larger positive mood boosts, but none of the biomarkers predicted memory performance; researchers suggest the brief testing window may have limited detection of memory consolidation and call for further research across different populations and more strenuous yoga.