We know that working out helps the heart, but what about the brain? Learn about the benefits of exercise on the brain and how it helps you.
You can improve your brain function, including your memory and thinking skills, simply by exercising. It does this by increasing your heart rate, resulting in more circulation and better oxygen delivery to the brain. To learn how working out can improve your health, read the following 6 benefits of exercise on the brain.
1. Attention Span
Unless you’ve had a brain issue, chances are you haven’t checked your individual alpha peak frequency (iAPF) lately. Your iAPF, part of an EEG test or electroencephalogram, measures your ability to pay attention and focus. It turns out that after doing some intense exercise, your iAPF levels go up along with your attention span.
2. Memory
By doing aerobic exercises like jogging or even walking, you may help your hippocampus grow and improve your memory. Moreover, it may be able to slow down the shrinking of the hippocampus, which would otherwise lead to memory issues. According to some studies, the benefit is stronger if you actually like the activity you’re doing.
3. Depression and Anxiety
In addition to helping your memory, aerobic exercise helps ease symptoms of depression and anxiety. One of the reasons this may work is because working out can slow the damage and breakdown of brain cells. However, it may take a while to see the results (think months), so start making exercise a regular now.
4. Sleep
If you need help sleeping, working out can help you wind down at bedtime and set a healthy sleep-wake cycle. While the exact brain effects are not clear, studies show that individuals who exercise get more “slow-wave” sleep. Unlike a night of tossing and turning, slow-wave sleep is deep and helps to revitalize your brain and body.
5. Brain Flexibility
The ability of your brain to change once you learn and experience new things is called neuroplasticity. Not surprisingly, younger brains tend to have better neuroplasticity, even if there are different capacities depending on the individual. However, scientists believe that combining aerobic exercise with weight training can improve your “brain flexibility.”
6. Dementia
Compared to physically active people, those who don’t exercise are likelier to experience Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Part of the reason is that exercise helps prevent obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and other factors that may lead to dementia. Furthermore, exercise may slow down the decline of gray matter, which is a sign of a healthy brain.
The Outlook
Studies show that exercise doesn’t just benefit your heart health, but also your brain health. To get started, make it a goal to do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week.
You can also start smaller and gradually increase your time – maybe even work out more than 150 minutes per week. Moreover, if you want an additional boost to your health, try a supplement like L-arginine Plus.
Its ingredients promote better circulation, healthier blood pressure, higher energy levels, and more. Give your brain health the support it needs by exercising regularly and taking L-arginine Plus.