In this blog post, we’ll explore the importance of exercise for brain health and whether we’re doing enough of it in the modern world.
The brain needs exercise. When we say this, it’s easy to think of learning exercises, such as memorizing acquaintances’ numbers instead of storing them in your phone to prevent dementia, but we’re talking about real exercise. These days, the fitness and diet craze has everyone hitting the gym, but few people realize that exercise is also good for the brain. But what we don’t realize is that exercise isn’t just a way to stay physically fit, it’s also an important way to maintain and improve brain function.
Think about it. Primitive humans walked many miles every day, and even after they became settled, they needed a lot of exercise. Our ancestors survived in this environment by keeping their bodies active and optimizing their brains. Suddenly, in the modern world, we’re not only sitting in classrooms and offices for hours on end, but we’re also sitting at home in front of the television or computer, which means we’re getting a lot less exercise than we used to. While the phrase “lack of exercise” is common in our society, it’s not just a matter of weight gain or muscle weakness. Our brains are optimized for a lot of movement, and suddenly we’re forced to adapt to the exact opposite. However, adaptation and evolution in living things doesn“t happen that quickly, so it”s likely that our brains are malfunctioning somewhere along the way.
In fact, a large number of studies prove this. Children who exercise regularly are more focused and less prone to depression and anxiety, which can impair attention, than those who don”t exercise. Aerobic exercise reduces the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s by half. It also improves long-term memory, reasoning, problem-solving, and judgment. A particularly noteworthy recent finding is that exercise doesn’t just maintain the current state of the brain, it stimulates the creation and connection of new neurons. This suggests that exercise may slow down the aging of the brain and even make it more resilient.
There are three main reasons why exercise has so many positive effects on the brain. First, exercise improves blood flow to the brain. The brain may be small, but it uses 20 percent of the body’s energy, so it requires a lot of glucose. But as it’s being used up, it produces harmful substances called free radicals, which it needs to get rid of. Nitric oxide, which is produced during exercise, stimulates the blood vessels and helps the blood to properly dispose of harmful substances. Second, it increases levels of BDNF, which helps nerve cells in the brain grow. The growth of nerve cells, which transmit commands to the brain, naturally improves various cognitive abilities. Finally, exercise maintains healthy levels of neurotransmitters that can affect the human mental system, such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. This is why exercise is said to reduce stress and combat depression.
So, how should you exercise? The answer is, as you might have guessed, little and often. At least twice a week is recommended. Although only aerobic exercise has been proven to affect brain cognition, recent studies have shown that anaerobic exercise has a variety of effects on physical health beyond just muscle development, so it”s a good idea to mix it up. In particular, exercises like yoga and Pilates are excellent for balancing the mind and body. These exercises don’t just improve your physical fitness, they also help to calm your mind and relieve stress.
In recent years, many companies have realized the benefits of exercise and have installed gyms in their workplaces and encouraged employees to exercise. There are even reports that exercise actually increases work efficiency. In addition, CEOs often have their own exercise habits. In today’s fast-paced, information society, exercise is more than just a recreational activity; it’s an important strategic asset for business people who need to take in a lot of information and make quick, accurate decisions. Exercising your brain to its fullest potential is the foundation of a successful life.
In conclusion, exercise is not just about physical health; it also has a huge impact on our mental and cognitive health. It’s important to keep in mind that we shouldn’t neglect exercise to optimize our brains. If we want to keep our brains in top shape in the future, we should start exercising today.
