This is your brain on exercise
If you've ever heard the term, “Dumb Jock” or other similar stereotype, it's time to change your thinking on, well, thinking. The science is in, and it says there are a whole host of benefits to being as fit as possible, and one of those benefits is a fit and healthy brain too.
Better cognitive function
Your brain works better after a good workout. Studies show that not only does a good workout get your heart pumping and your muscles working, it also gets your brain racing too. Studies in animals show that exercise can help in neurogenesis, or new nerve cell growth in the brain. At this point, it can't be proven that humans also have neurogenesis because to prove it, the brain must be removed and measured for growth—not exactly something most humans are running to sign up for.
Despite this, there's strong evidence that it occurs in humans too, such as the fact that people who work out regularly tend to experience less cognitive decline as they age compared to their less fit counterparts. Those who exercised frequently also tended to have better memory, even as they aged, compared to less fit people.
Less Stress
Most of us lead pretty stressful lives, far from the natural world our ancestors lived in. While we're no longer in danger of being taken down by larger, hungrier predators, we often still experience similar levels of stress on a daily basis. This chronic stress is deadly, and can lead to a variety of health problems.
Luckily, the antidote to stress could be your next trip to the gym. Studies indicate that this has a neurochemical basis. Exercise is a kind of physical stress, but it is one your brain knows how to react to. When you exercise, your body releases appropriate amounts of cortisol to help you relax, and that helps with your mental stress too. We all feel better after a great workout, and cortisol is one of the major reasons why.
Less stress doesn't just mean feeling better, it could also extend your life. There are a lot of perks to exercising your body, and a stress free life is just one of them.
Fewer mood disorders
Exercise gives you a mood boost, but that's not the only way it helps your brain. Studies have shown that exercise can also help in a variety of mood disorders. In one study published in Psychosomatic Medicine, supervised exercise had nearly the same treatment success for depression as medication. If you're not able to or uninterested in taking medication with its side effects, a good workout may be the right choice for you.
There's very good evidence that exercise helps with mood disorders besides depression as well. Exercise and its effects on the brain are a frequent area of study for scientists, and it has been shown to help in disorders such as anxiety and even bi-polar disorder.
If you want to keep your brain in the best possible shape, it may be time to bust out those dumbbells or go for a run. It'll help more than just your muscles.
