Exercise is good for your brain health. It keeps your brain in shape, makes new brain cells, improves your memory, other brain functions, and your mood. It is not only good for you but also for your environment. So go on: go brain gymnastics! You don’t need a gym for that. The Hampton Health & Fitness Club is a unique Midlands based Health Club specializing in results based exercise.You can approach this club for your mental health.
Why is exercise good for your brain?
Scientific research shows that exercise positively affects mental functions such as memory, concentration, and the ability to plan and organize. What exactly happens in the brain through training is not yet known. It is still being researched today. Research shows that incredibly intensive exercise, where you get out of breath, seems to influence thinking positively.
Movement keeps your brain fit.
For example, in New Zealand, researcher David Moreau showed that intensive exercise boosts children ‘s brains and helps them learn. Three hundred five children, ages 7 to 13, were divided into two groups. Group 1, the placebo group, was presented with games and quizzes. Group 2 did an intensive workout every school day for six weeks. Group 2 participants showed improvements in tasks involving information processing and memory. They were also able to focus better on a task without being distracted. It also applies to adults.
The research, therefore, shows that the exercises do not have to be time-consuming and that you benefit from short periods of reasonably intensive physical activity.
The benefits of exercise for the brain:
- Movement improves your memory and thinking, or your cognition;
- The move has a beneficial effect on the effect of dopamine. It is a substance that plays a role in communication between brain cells. In various brain disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease, depression, anxiety disorders, and dementia, the effect of dopamine is disrupted;
- By moving, you make new brain cells (neurogenesis) ;
- It also creates new connections between brain cells (synaptogenesis ). It is also essential for communication between brain cells;
- Movement creates new blood vessels in the brain (angiogenesis). The blood supply improves, and your brain receives sufficient nutrition and oxygen. It also slows down the aging process;
- Exercise also regulates the secretion of the sleep hormone melatonin. As a result, you experience fewer sleeping problems.
How Much Exercise Is Effective For Your Brain?
Scientists distinguish three types of movement:
- Functional exercise: such as walking, cycling, or climbing stairs. It is purely to get around;
- Recreational exercise: a walk or bike ride in nature;
- Intensive exercise: sports.
All three differ significantly in how often, long, and intensively you perform them. Neuropsychologist Erik Scherder states in his book ‘Don’t let your brain sit’ that you should exercise moderately intensively for at least half an hour. In any case, so ‘intensively’ that your heart starts beating faster, and you can still talk. It can also be done by cycling or walking at a faster pace. You must do this for 30 minutes consecutively. So it’s not like you have to hit the gym every day to keep your brain active. Walking briskly or cycling for half an hour a day can already be very effective and is a healthy goal. So go outside!
0 Comments