Candace Cameron Bure Shares How Staying Active Helps Her 'Deal With Depression'

• Candace Cameron Bure opened up about her mental health in a new interview with The Salvation Army.

• The Fuller House actress said exercising helps alleviate her depression.

• Cameron Bure said she feels stronger than ever at 45.

For Candace Cameron Bure, working out is so much more than a means to sweat. In a new interview with The Salvation Army, the Fuller House star said she exercises as a way to "keep my mental health clear."

"I juggle, as we all do, a lot of plates," she said in the interview. "I not only juggle my family but also work in a lot of different capacities. It can get really difficult." Cameron Bure is a mom of three to Natasha (23), Maksim (21), and Lev (19).

"Just sweating that out and all those endorphins really help me a lot. I notice a huge difference when I don’t exercise, how much it can affect me mentally and kind of deal with depression," she said. "That's why I keep going. There are a lot of benefits I get. My mind is most important, and exercise definitely helps that."

Although she's an empty nester now, Cameron Bure ensures that her kids don't need her any less, and she's still balancing motherhood, her career, and fitness. "[The kids are] still always calling, and we FaceTime about every other day," she told The Salvation Army. But she still makes time to sweat.

The actress often shares her workouts to Instagram, and has previously opened up to Parade about her fitness routine. "I try to work out four to five times a week. I mix it up a lot, so it stays interesting to me," she said.

Cameron Bure said she loves a variety of exercises, including running, strength training, plyometrics, and HIIT. "I swear by push-ups: wide grip, tricep, dolphin, inclined, declined, you name it. My arms, shoulders, and back have really changed from constantly doing them," she said.

The Hallmark movie star told People she follows a mostly plant-based diet after recovering from bulimia. "I follow a more Mediterranean diet, so I eat lots of fresh vegetables and whole grains and fish," she said, adding that she's cut dairy and sugar out of her diet. "I see the biggest effect from not eating as much sugar."

At 45, Cameron Bure feels better than ever. "I have loved this journey of fitness. I feel stronger at 45 than I did when I was 20 years old," she told The Salvation Army. "It's just every time you get stronger, or I see my muscles from doing more pushups, it keeps me going to want to do more and just keep that up."

Most importantly, Cameron Bure is proud of her success and health journey. "I feel a real sense of accomplishment about what my body can still do, and I want to keep it in shape and keep it strong for so many years that are ahead of me," she told People. "You kind of take your body for granted when you’re younger, so the older I get the prouder I am of the things I'm able to do with it."

If you believe you are struggling with an eating disorder and need support, call the National Eating Disorders Association helpline at (800) 931-2237. You can text HOME to 741741 to message a trained crisis counselor from the Crisis Text Line for free.

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