Exercise Makes You Smarter!

Most people know that exercise is healthy for you. We are often told it helps us burn excess calories, lose weight, build muscles and improve cardiovascular health. What most people don’t know is that it can literally make you smarter!

It is a popular saying that your brain is “like a muscle”. When you think of that you think of crunching numbers at a desk not of doing crunches on the floor. Most people would believe that the only way to get smarter is to study, read and learn more information in order to achieve this goal. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Let’s dive into some of the ways that exercise can help YOU be smarter!

Boosting Memory

Aerobic exercise improves the health of your hippocampus. You might ask what the hell is that? The hippocampus is part of the core of your brain that is involved in learning and memory formation. Well controlled studies of all age groups show that as one’s aerobic fitness improves, this area of the brain grows! Studies have also shown that walking or cycling WHILE learning can improve your ability to learn a foreign language. Maybe this is why the great philosopher Socrates taught in a walking classroom.

Improve Concentration

Exercise can also help you focus! Studies in the U.S. and the Netherlands showed that when school children were given lessons with exercise either during or after not only did the children become more fit. Their executive control and attention spans improved. They became more able to ignore distractions, better at multi-tasking and were able to hold onto new information more readily.

Mood & Mental Health

We have all heard the “runner’s high” or the “endorphin rush” that people feel during/after bouts of running, or other more intense exercise. This is not a myth! Scientists have now discovered the molecule responsible for this and how it is beneficial for us. It is called Anandamide or the “bliss” molecule. It is an endogenous(self made) fatty acid that your body releases in response to exercise. It interacts with your endocannabinoid receptors of your nervous system. Anandamide plays a role in the regulation of feeding behavior, and the neural generation of motivation and pleasure. Helping you to lift your mood and improve your mental health!

Exercise Literally Feeds Your Brain!

Most people have never heard of BDNF or brain derived neurotrophic factor. BDNF is a protein and nerve growth factor that resides in your brain. It’s job is to support the survival of existing neurons and promote the growth of new neurons. So it is pretty important. It’s like Miracle Grow for your brain! Well guess what? Exercise increases the amount of BDNF in your brain! Exercise induces beneficial responses in the brain, which is accompanied by an increase in BDNF, a trophic factor associated with cognitive improvement and the alleviation of depression and anxiety.

As I said earlier. Most people know that exercise is good for them, but may not be aware of how far reaching the benefits may be. So get out there, exercise and get your BRAIN on!!!

If you are new to exercise or want to break through a plateau CONTACT Enso Health and Fitness