How Exercise Affects the Brain in More Ways Than You Think

It has been known for some time that regular exercise improves mental health as it increases endorphins.?Endorphins act on the opiate receptors in our brains, they reduce pain and boost pleasure, resulting in a feeling of well-being.?

But how else does exercise nourish the brain??One or two may surprise you.

A good workout is a great de-stresser.?Not only does it release those lovely endorphins, but it also fools the brain into fight or flight mode, focussing your brain.?As it does, those daily annoyances and irritations melt away, leaving you with a clearer mind and a more positive attitude.

It makes you more sociable. ?

After doing exercise we feel an achievement. Whether that is building your reps from 5 to 10 or running a marathon. Achievement gives us all a massive boost. It makes us all feel good.?Add the physical element to that, along with the affects, your achievements will feel ten times as good.

Exercise Boosts Memory and Increases Concentration

Blood is sent to the hippocampus, which is the brain’s learning and memory department. The more this is nourished, the more information your brain can handle.

In a recent study found that if lectures were paused and students did an aerobics session, before continuing, attention spans were greatly improved.?Another trial, which took place in the U, it was found that the fitter the student, the better they became at multitasking, and processing information. Concentration was also greatly improved.

You will be braver in life.

This is a big claim, but there is science behind it.?Latest research has found that lactate, which gets released during exercise (and often blamed for muscle soreness but that is in dispute now), travels through the bloodstream to neurotransmitters in the brain, reducing anxiety, which in turn reduces fear.?

You will be happier

And not just because of the extra endorphins you are producing.?Your dopamine, adrenaline and endocannabinoid (the same chemical you find in cannabis) levels will be boosted.?All of which help to increase your positivity, sense of worth, and general feeling of happiness.

Exercise helps building new brain cells

It was once thought that brain cells could not regenerate.?That as life went on, they died, never to return.?That theory was dispelled in 1999 when a study showed that exercise increased the brain’s ability to grow new neuronal connections.

It slows cognitive decline

Just two weekly gym sessions a week can have a?visible neurological impact. The brain feeds off blood that you send it.?You do not even need to be extreme. Just 30-45 minutes of brisk walking, three times a week, can help fend off the mental wear and tear and delay the onset of dementia.

I have highlighted some of the main benefits, but there are many, many more.?There is no argument, fitness, along with good nutrition, will improve your life in every way.

If you would like to improve your fitness but maybe nervous or unsure about joining a gym, drop me an email I would be delighted to give you a personal tour of The Cut, where I can answer any questions or concerns that you may have. ?

The Cut supports and promotes inclusivity, and respect, to all. ?

Steve Wise