The Impact of Exercise on Brain Health

We all know that exercise is good for us. Though some of us enjoy it more than others, the benefits of regular exercise are numerous. We tend to think of physical exercise as solely for physical health, but did you know that exercise is key for brain health? According to Harvard Medical School, researchers “found that regular aerobic exercise, the kind that gets your heart and your sweat glands pumping, appears to boost the size of the hippocampus, the brain area involved in verbal memory and learning”. So is jogging the key to sharpening your brain? It just might be! Exercise has other mental benefits as well. For me, I find that it helps me to clear my mind. Often in a desk chair dominated world, we find ourselves running into the cyclical trap routine. We go to work, sit at a desk, type out words on a screen, then go home. We don’t have any type of excitement or even danger. We live in little bubbles. Going out for a run, or lifting some heavy weight invigorates us. It helps us to feel alive. I find that exercise also helps me to be more productive and better confidence. For instance, with lifting weights, it gives you the ability to do a little better each and every day. Life one more rep. Add a few more pounds of weight to the bar, etc… Having a controlled environment that you can improve in on a daily basis is refreshing. All of those little daily victories add up to a huge confidence boost. You test your body’s limits and therefore you start to know your body’s limits. You don’t get that in a cubicle. Now, exercise isn’t the only key to brain health. You also need to eat foods that support your brain. For instance, you want to get in good amounts of Rutin, a citrus flavonoid that helps to protect your brain health. So eat lots of citrus fruits!rnIn Closing Make sure to include daily exercise as part of your day. Go for a run, lift some weights, or simply get outside for a walk. Adding this routine to your day will make a major impact on your brain, and your overall health!