Exercise Can Grow Your Brain – Not Just Your Muscles
It’s time to talk about our most prized “muscle.” The brain. Research shows different activities have quite specific mental effects. Here’s how moving your body could sharpen your ideas and memory retention. Working your body’s real muscles can actually benefit one’s grey matter. Different exercises can be linked directly to certain parts of the brain.
Grow Your Brain and Muscles
For example, aerobic exercise, a very engaged low to a high-intensity workout, is strongly connected to the hippocampus. This part of the brain is the center of emotion, memory, and the autonomic nervous system. Studies show that the more a person engages in physical movement activity, the more their brain structure grows.
Another study in young children has shown that recess can be beneficial to the overall mental growth of those who are still developing, not just those on the fringe. The study in kids grade K-5 indicated that when the students participated in 8-20 minutes of physical activity such as running and playing, they showed a decrease in distractions and an increase in content retention. They were even more attentive to their classwork.
Keeping it Simple
Simple exercises such as walking, running, biking, aerobics, and yoga can not only help retain loose memories, but also help boost creativity, productivity, and even your overall mental health. By working these things into your everyday life, you are sure to be on the path of genius and a healthier cognitive lifestyle!
Besides improving memory and thinking skills, there are plenty of other good reasons for being physically active, too. Reducing the odds of developing heart disease, stroke, and diabetes are some big reasons. Maybe you want to lose weight, lower your blood pressure, prevent depression, or just look better, too.
As we wrap up the month of September and Healthy Aging Month, it’s worth noting that age is a mindset! There are so many positive aspects to growing older. Staying active and exercising regularly are two of the many important factors in staying young – both in your body and your brain!
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