9 Amazing benefits of workout for the brain and mental health
Many people are keen to exercise just to have a healthy body, yet they know very little about the benefits of exercise. It is not only limited to improving physical health, but also reflects on mental health.
According to a study conducted by Julia Basso and Wendy Suzuki at the Center for Neurosciences at New York University, exercise is very effective in reducing signs of major depression, due to its positive effect on the body and because it is also known as one of the main antidepressants.
In addition, exercise helps regulate basic hormones in the brain, which contribute to improving memory and concentration, improving cognitive functions, enabling healthy sleep, and promoting general brain health. It is known that, unlike other parts of the body, the brain does not have actual muscle, but it still requires exercise to continue its functions.
Thus, it would not be wrong to say that exercise is a form of treatment for many mental health problems. Here are 9 amazing banafits of workout for the brain and mental health
1- It improves mood
According to Basu and Suzuki's study, exercise causes immediate changes in the level of certain hormones, such as dopamine and serotonin, which are responsible for improving mood and giving a feeling of happiness.
2- It improves sleep
Studies have proven that 150 minutes of weekly exercise helps a person get better sleep, by reducing stress and anxiety levels. Therefore, it is often suggested that people with insomnia incorporate exercise into their lives to improve the quality of their sleep.
Read also: Eating tips before, during and after training
3- It reduces stress and anxiety
Exercise helps regulate a special type of hormone called endocannabinoids that helps reduce anxiety and stress, and gives a person a feeling of contentment, happiness, and contentment. And the results of a scientific study published in the journal All Wiley on couples exercising together says that they remain happier and more satisfied.
4- It protects against degenerative diseases
A joint US-Chinese study, the results of which were published in the British Medical Journal BMJ, demonstrated that daily exercise reduces the risk of degenerative diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer's, by improving blood flow in the brain, which helps it to function and grow well.
5- It improves cognition
In the same vein, experiments have demonstrated that physical exercise is a powerful genetic modifier that leads to functional and structural changes in the brain in order to improve cognitive function and a person's well-being.
6- Boosts memory
According to a study conducted by the US National Center for Biotechnology Information NCBI, exercise helps activate the vestibular system, a sense organ that contributes to movement and a sense of balance, and which helps bring about changes in brain regions such as the hippocampus and parietal cortex that are involved in memory.
7- It improves focus
According to a joint study of scientists from the University of Okla and Illinois, based on the experiment, and conducted on people between the ages of 18 and 25 years, it was found that increasing fitness, through exercise, is associated with greater efficiency and accuracy of the person’s rapid response behavior, which contributes to improving his ability to focus.
8- Increases the volume of the hippocampus
Aging reduces the size of the hippocampus and causes memory impairment and dementia. Studies have shown that the volumes of the hippocampus and medial lobes are larger in adults who play sports and participate in various physical activities.
9- It boosts creativity
According to the British Journal of Sports Medicine, exercises such as aerobic dancing or "aerobic" sometimes help promote creative thinking by boosting a positive mood in exercisers. However, there is no definitive evidence for these results and more research is needed in the future.
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