We all know that doing sports and exercise is very beneficial for the body, there is no doubt about it, however, many times we look for and think about the benefits that it brings us directly in the physical but not in the benefits it brings us in terms of our mental health and our brain.
Exercising not only improves our external appearance, it also helps us maintain a strong heart, prevents premature aging, improves our mood and also takes care of our brain.
In this article we want to comment on what are those benefits that help us improve our brain health, because various studies have shown that physical activity improves our mental health.
Benefits of exercise for the brain
The scientific evidences of the CSIC, has studied for years the benefits of physical exercise in cognitive health. Sports and physical activity have been shown to shape the human brain and explain the beneficial effects of exercise on cognition, mood, and brain health.
Between the positive effects it produces on us, we highlight the following:
- Increase the Cognitive ability.
- It is beneficial for forming new neurons.
- Makes the Blood flow in the brain.
- Increases oxygen consumption by neural cells.
- It induces a correct neuroprotection.
Next, we tell you which are the benefits that we highlight the most:
Generate more neurons
For a long time, it was said that the brain was not capable of generating new neurons, however, this statement is false, since currently it has been shown that the brain performs a process called neurogenesis, which means that the brain it is capable of generating new neurons.
Aerobic exercise allows favor this process, because exercise influences the hippocampus, the area of the brain that is related to memory and learning.
Treats and prevents depression
La depression It is one of the main diseases in the world and even so, it is very difficult to treat. Physical exercise could be one of the best treatments to treat depression and other mood and personality disorders.
Exercise is directly related to serotonin, a neurotransmitter It influences our mood, anxiety and happiness. So we could ensure that it not only helps with depression problems, it also prevents it from being suffered.
So we advise add a daily exercise routine to our day to day.
Increase our concentration
Exercise allows us to maintain good concentration more easily. The concentration capacity of people who were in shape compared to people who were not and who lead a sedentary life, as well as people who have just started training.
And the results showed that people who were in shape concentrated more easily, and that starting to play sports, supposes an improvement of the capacity of the concentration.
Increase cognitive flexibility
Concentration is not the only skill that we must have trained, we also have to be able to be cognitively flexible, that is, we have to have some ability to move from one task to another, adjust our attention and follow several topics at the same time.
This allows you to greatly improve exercise and physical activity. In an investigation where different intensity tests were carried out on several people, it was observed that there was a direct relationship between the intensity of exercise and the improvement of the individual's cognitive flexibility, they could pay attention to several tasks at the same time.
Keeps our gray matter in good condition
First of all, we have to explain what gray matter is, and this is nothing more than the substance that the brain is made of, and it is responsible for the transmission of data and therefore responsible for our agility of thought.
Age and some diseases destroy this gray matter and cause it to decrease in quantity, however, exercise allows to keep it in good condition.
It has been concluded that all adults who tend to do aerobic exercise regularly, have a denser matter than people who are more sedentary in their daily life.
In children, the same relationship also occurs, those children who exercise more showed better values than those who did not do sports.
Relieve our stress and reduce anxiety
Much has been said, but it is true, exercise helps us relieve stress and anxiety. Exercising is very important, whether it's going for a run, swimming, riding a bike or any other exercise that you like., even those that help you relax. This will allow you to regain control of your mind and feel anxious or stressed.
Physical exercise makes the brain release endorphins, dopamine, and norepinephrine, are substances associated with an improvement of cognitive functions, improves mood and our alertness.
Many people who feel worried or overwhelmedWhether due to some personal circumstance, work or some external problem that is beyond our control, physical exercise allows us in some way to help our brain to focus on something else.
Slow down our brain aging
It is said that from the age of 30, the brain begins to lose volume naturally, that is, the gray matter deteriorates and is reduced, this is causing the progressive loss of functions.
Some investigations have shown that if we exercise, older adults can even regain 1% to 2% of brain volume in the hippocampus area, which translates into a recovery of this organ as if 2 years had passed.
Finally, it has also been determined that exercise time is important when it comes to improving that size of the hippocampus.
The brain we have to take care of, and one of the ways in which we can do it is with physical exercise, it will help you have a great mental and physical health. Look for motivation and be constant, find a sport that you like and do not stop doing it, it is important to take some dynamics to notice the benefits.