Exercise Is Good for Your Brain And Your Body

Most of us know to transform our physique we need to exercise. But did you know that working out is one of the most transformative things you can do for your brain? Exercise strengthens all parts of your brain tissue including gray matter. It protects your brain from stress, aging and disease.

Exercise boosts brain power by increasing brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). BDNF protects and repairs brain cells and forges new connections. This can lower your risk of age-related decline. Exercise also releases Serotonin which boosts your mood. It delivers Dopamine which enhances learning and attention. Physical activity also elevates your Norepinephrine levels which affect motivation, arousal and perception.

Working out improves your brain’s ability to grow and change over time. It stimulates the growth of new brain cells. It also promotes better communication between brain cells. Being sedentary can make it hard to process information and to think critically. The more active you are the bigger and stronger your brain becomes. If you exercise regularly you will think and feel better.

Top Ten Ways Exercise Boosts Brain Power

1. Improves learning, problem-solving and decision making
2. Sharpens memory
3. Lowers risk of Alzheimers and Dementia and slows down aging
4. Improves concentration, motivation and focus
5. Decreases anxiety, stress, depression and ADHD
6. Boosts your energy levels
7. Increases productivity and decreases reaction time
8. Enhances your sense of self-worth and accomplishment
9. Elevates your mood
10. Improves the quality of your sleep

How Much Exercise Do I Need?

Every step you take helps both your body and your brain. Start with a five or ten minute walk and work up from there. Your energy will increase once you begin so don’t hesitate to get started! Even a handful or two of jumping jacks can rev up a low-energy day.

The World Health Organization recommends at least 22 minutes of exercise most days. Shooting for 30 minutes or more of moderate activity at least five days a week is even better. This can be broken down into two 15-minute or three 10-minute sessions if that works better for you.

Which Type of Exercise Is Best?

Cardiovascular exercise is best at boosting your brain power. Aerobic activity increases your heart rate. Your heart pumps more blood with oxygen and nutrients to your brain. You can feel good about working your heart, lungs and brain all while burning lots of calories.

Cardio workouts requiring coordination are at the top of the list. This is because many parts of your brain are activated at once. A combination of cardio and strength training is also a great choice. Circuit training is a great way to boost your brain power. Your heart rate remains elevated and your attention shifts often throughout the workout.

To reap the most benefits from your workouts, focus on your body and how you feel as you exercise. Having a good mind-body connection boosts brain power.

The Mental Advantage

If there were a pill to improve your mood, energy, sleep, memory, emotional balance and cognition you would take it right? Who doesn’t want to have more clarity and be less susceptible to disease, stress and aging? Exercise is that pill! It doesn’t take a lot of time or intensity to reap the brain-changing benefits of working out. Do you want to be smarter, feel better and live longer? When will your brain transformation begin?

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www.cdc.gov; www.health.harvard.edu; www.hopkinsmedicine.org; www.brainhq.com; www.seattletimes.com; www.helpguide.org; innerdrive.co.uk; www.cnbc.com; www.active.com; www.menshealth.com