Boost Your Brain Power with Exercise

A healthy body begins with a healthy brain. This organ is responsible for all of the functions needed to keep your body healthy and fit. Your brain controls your muscle coordination, balance, and movement and you can keep this vital organ healthy and strong with a regular exercise routine.

Exercise not only strengthens your body, it also has been proven that regular exercise boosts brain power. As it turns out, people who spend their time engaged in physical activity are also doing wonders for their mental capacity. Exercise is the key to living a healthy life.

It has been proven that working out regularly when you are young will improve your cognitive function as you reach middle age and even protect you from dementia, as you grow older.

We all know that a sedentary lifestyle wreaks havoc on the physical body, causing muscles to weaken, including your heart muscle. New studies have shown that the brain, too, suffers without regular physical activity. The good news is that it’s never too late to get back in the game. Whether you are 17 or 70, you can improve your body and your brain when you engage in a regular exercise routine.

But what is it about exercise that makes it so good for the brain? Exercise causes the brain to release certain hormones that actually help improve memory. It also increases circulation, regulates respiratory and improves cardio functions, all of which attribute to a healthy brain.

As little as 20 minutes of resistance training can improve long-term memory nearly 10%. Working out at least 4 times a week, alternating cardio exercises and activities with resistance training can reduce the risk of depression by nearly 20%. Staying fit builds confidence and self-esteem. Even for beginners, completing their first exercise class can make them feel stronger and more confident. That reason alone is why many participants return for their next session.

Exercise is mood altering, too. You may have noticed that taking a walk, playing tennis or getting busy in the garden can lift your spirits when you are feeling angry or depressed. Exercise increases the body’s production of endocannabinoids resulting in an endorphin rush to make you feel happy.

Fitness has been proven to add so much to our health and to be completely honest–it is so much fun. An important part of the body’s requirements, exercise builds muscles, increases stamina and boosts brainpower. Reasons enough to make exercise a priority for a lifetime. Be smart; start exercising for a better body, mind and soul.