The positive feeling from exercise can last 12 hours.

By Sarah Beldo

Doctors and health professionals have long prescribed exercise as an easy and inexpensive way of finding balance and giving your mood a boost.

Now, researchers from the University of Vermont are suggesting that the happy feeling you get after working out could set you in good stead for the rest of the day.

Previously, experts estimated that exercisers could reap the emotional benefits of physical activity for up to an hour after a workout ended.

But Dr. Jeremy Sibold and colleagues found that study participants reported feeling happier up to 12 hours after they exercised. Their positive attitude persisted, regardless of fitness level.

"This goes a long way to show that even moderate aerobic exercise has the potential to mitigate the daily stress that results in your mood being disturbed," he told HealthDay News.

Even better, health experts say that there are a number of different ways you can reap the stress-busting benefits of a workout. Walking, running, cycling, gardening, golfing and dancing are just a few of the activities that can boost your mood—and your fitness level.