In my last article (Fitness is Free) I advocated that fitness is free. And when you become physically fit through exercise, as a corollary, you get another free benefit, ‘the mental fitness’ which is most essential for all of us.
“What’s the most transformative thing that you can do for your brain today? Exercise!” says neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki.
Photo taken from: http://www.thementalrunner.org/
My Opinion:
There are numerous studies that are conducted by neuroscientists, neurologists and psychiatrists on the impact of physical exercise on brain and mental fitness. Every study has converged to the conclusion that yes, physical exercise has positive correlation with mental fitness that includes (i) long-term memory, (ii) learning (iii) thinking and (iv) decision making skill. Exercise helps in overcoming the brain smog that comes with age.
Over the last three and half years I experienced observable transformation within me that has differentiated the way I manage difficult situations, correlate and articulate different events and constructively contribute towards innovations.
The Structure of Brain:
Human brain is the most complex structure in the universe consisting of about 100 billion of interconnected neurons or brain cells (the basic working unit of brain). The brain is what it is because of the structural and functional properties of these interconnected neurons.
The Brain Impact:
Researchers at University of British Columbia observed that regular physical exercise that gets the heart and sweat glands pumping, creates more neurons in the hippocampus, the brain area involved in verbal memory and learning. Increased heart rate pumps more oxygen to brain and release of a plethora of hormones. All these provide a nutritious atmosphere for the growth of brain cells and new neuronal connections. This leads to massive improvement in your cognitive thinking.
There are some proven indirect impacts also. Hitches in mood and sleep are the frequent causes of cognitive injury like stress and anxiety. Exercise improves mood as well as sleep and there by the cognitive strength.
Some references:
- Watch this Ted Talk by Wendy Suzuki The brain-changing benefits of exercise
- The antidepressant effect of running is associated with increased hippocampal cell proliferation.
Conclusion:
So, your time for waiting, strategizing, planning and building mood is over now. Take first step forward to the amazing world of exercise, workouts, running, gym, zumba, jogging, yoga or simply walking, at least for 30 minutes a day.
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