Did you know that exercise effects your brain more than any other part of your body? Yes, exercise does help in reducing weight, but more importantly, it makes your brain stronger. Don’t worry, the first time I read about it, it surprised me too. Getting off the couch and running on a treadmill, or hitting the gym, helps strengthen your brain.
Are you one of those who exercises daily? Have you ever wondered why you feel good after exercising? Or how even a short workout can boost your morale?
Exercise’s effect on your brain
Generally we all associate exercise with our physical health and losing weight, but we never think that exercise is one of the most impactful things you can do for your brain. Undoubtedly, exercise is paramount to success. Did you know that exercising can boost your cognitive skills, in particular your memory and ability to learn and stay focused.
As many of you are aware, there is a part in our brain called the Hippocampus, which is responsible for storing our memories.
Studies prove that exercising produces new brain cells in the Hippocampus hence making it stronger by increasing its volume. This group of new cells in the Hippocampus improves your long term memory and boosts your focus and ability to maintain attention on a task. It also lowers the chances of diseases like Alzheimer’s and Dementia.
According to researchers, there is another interesting fact about exercise. After a Single workout, our brain releases certain chemicals which are known as neurotransmitters such as Dopamine, Serotonin, and Adrenaline that helps concentration and motivation as these are mood boosting hormones. All antidepressants work by increasing these hormones, hence, we can say that a higher level of these can make your brain sharper.
Imagine if you could increase all these neurotransmitters without any pill at the same time. Exercising boosts your ability to learn and remember things. Your brain possesses Brain-derived neurotrophic factors (BDNF) in the region which is responsible for memory and learning. Exercising increases your heart rate and pumps more oxygenated blood to the brain which increases BDNF levels and improves memory and learning ability.
A daily morning workout can boost your focus, mood, and enhance your memory and learning capabilities. This is the reason doctors recommend exercising early in the morning.