Exercise Makes People Smarter!

Anna — Wed, 16 May 2007 13:25:00 GMT

This should be a no-brainer

By Fitness Mike

A study reveals that exercise can make people smarter. New nerve cells developed in the brains of subjects after a 3 month aerobic workout plan. Growing new nerve cells in the brain was thought to be impossible and all it took was a simple 3 month aerobic plan. Gee, who would have thought?

I always thought it stood to reason that with all the health benefits exercising provides that an increase in mental abilities would also be a benefit. Increasing the blood flow to your brain is ideal when it comes to using your noggin without the need for a special cap. When someone tells me to put on my thinking cap I can tell them I don't need one because my new nerve cells make my brain more efficient.

Neuroscientists "armed with brain-scanning tools and a [sophisticated] understanding of biochemistry" are now realizing the mental benefits are much more than once thought. Armed? That sounds just a bit tacky. Hey, I can be cool to. When I go to perform my workout, I am armed with my trusty, reliable water bottle and workout gloves to tackle whatever workout I need to do.

Keeping the brain active by learning new things and exercising your brain can help prevent Alzheimer's disease. Research indicates that vigorous physical exercise can help stave off Alzheimer's and other mental conditions. The brain develops dense pathways designed for an overall increased brain function. One of the more interesting points was that the self-esteem improvement was not from watching your waist slim up but from changes in the brain. Something the average person would now know due to lack of brain-scanning tools and the biochemistry understanding.

While vigorous exercise is still the preferred, moderate exercise should not be ignored. People try to make any excuse they can to not exercise. Even 10 minutes of physical activity is better than nothing. This sounds similar to eating several smaller meals throughout the day, as opposed to a few bigger meals. Eating 2-3 bigger meals leaves gaps in metabolism whereas eating 5-6 smaller meals helps keep a steadier metabolism that burns calories continuously.

Scientists still haven’t uncovered all the benefits of exercise, but armed with their brain-scanning tools, I am sure they will figure it out one day. I would not mind seeing some before and after pictures of the new nerve cells in the brain. Who's with me? Anyone? Hello? Is this thing on? Where did those crickets come from?

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Exercise Makes People Smarter!