DOES EXERCISE AFFECT MENTAL HEALTH:

THAT’S A NO-BRAINER!

This FMRI image shows a large increase in brain activity after just 20 minutes of vigorous walking. The reason you may feel sharper after exercising is all the increased blood flow to the brain that results from exercise!

Exercising doesn’t only strengthen our bodies, it also strengthens our brains. A healthy body and a healthy mind go hand in hand. Overall well-being means not just physical fitness but mental stability as well.

If you need another health benefit to motivate you to work out, here it is. Six Brain Boosting reasons to exercise:

1) Improved Mood

Believe it or not, exercise can help to reduce the feelings and symptoms associated with both short- and long-term depression! So if you had a bad day or suffer from being anxious and depressed look no further than your running shoes for a remedy.

2) Stress Relief

Exercise helps your brain positively react to stress. It’s also been found that people with anxiety tend to suffer fewer panic attacks when they begin a regime of exercising regularly.

3) Feeling Forgetful?

Exercise has incredible benefits when it comes to improving and preserving your memory. The same endorphins that make you feel better also help you concentrate and feel mentally sharp for tasks at hand. Exercise also stimulates the growth of new brain cells and helps prevent age-related decline.

4) Build Social Skills

There are so many benefits of playing Team sports, including building self-esteem, overcoming adversity, and leadership skills. So, put the phone away and go join the volleyball team or basketball team.

5) Better Sleep

When it comes to getting a better night’s sleep, scientific studies have yet to find a better activity than exercise, especially weight lifting! Exercise raises your core body temperature and then, after exercise, that temperature falls again which can help promote a better night’s sleep.

6) New Brain Cells

Exercise, especially cardio exercises like vigorous walking, running or dancing have been shown to actually help your brain to create new neurons (neurogenesis)

So, if being in a great mood, less stressed, sharp as a tack, and sleeping like a baby sounds good to you. All you need to do is incorporate 20 minutes of physical exercise 4 days a week. This will increase heart rate, which pumps more oxygen to the brain. It aids the release of hormones which provide an excellent environment for the growth of brain cells.