Many people today are focused on their physical health. There are many reasons they try to stay active. It may be to control diseases like diabetes, blood pressure, to lose weight, or just for daily fitness. But the main reason is to keep yourself physically fit. Physical fitness requires a balanced diet and most importantly regular exercise. Regular workout or regular exercise is a key to Physical fitness.
Physical fitness is also important for your mental health. And not everyone knows that it is important for keeping a good brain functioning. It can help our cognitive health. Physical fitness helps in many ways, no matter the age. It can help improve your overall brain health, it can improve your sleep, it can help improve your quality of life, and much more.
How does Physical fitness help your brain?
When you are physically active, your heart rate increases, which pumps more oxygen to the brain. This results in a release of hormones that provide a good environment for brain cells growth. UCLA research demonstrated that exercise increased growth factors in the brain.
This helps the brain to grow new neuronal connections. Physical activity also benefits the brain in several other ways.
• Physical fitness promotes cardiovascular health.
• Physical activity increases the blood flow to the brain, which is beneficial in many ways.
• As, exercise increases blood flow to your brain, this reduces inflammation to it.
• Physical activities boost your energy level, reducing stress hormones.
According to a study, researchers found that even people with light-intensity physical activity (ie. Light workout or 7500 steps or more daily) were having higher total brain volume. Physical activity can also help people who are at risk of developing Dementia or Alzheimer’s to avoid it for many years with better brain functioning.
Physical activity sharpens your memory and thinking. It also helps to increase your concentration and improves your overall brain functioning.
What activities can be done to benefit your brain functioning?Any Physical activity is very helpful for your brain functioning. Many People go to the Gym, have a proper workout routine, or have high activity routines. But for those who have more screen time work or any other problems, here are some activities to stay fit and are fun.
These activities are not time-consuming and are good for any age group.
• Dance
This is one of the best ways to burn calories and enjoy without feeling like exercise. Just turn on music at your home and let your body feel its beats.
• Be lightly active while working on a laptop or while watching TV
• Take a break from your screen time to time. Stretch your legs and take a quick walk. Make yourself do little exercises while watching TV (like squats, on-spot jogging, or just walking in your room while watching TV).
• Force yourself to add small physical activities to your daily routine. Take stairs instead of an elevator, avoid driving to every place instead, walk to the shops or stores that are nearby .
• Walk a dog
If you have a dog, talk it out for a walk. Dogs are great companions for a walk. They keep you active and help you stay fit.
• Daily chores
Do chores like yard work, mowing the grass in your backyard by yourself, or gardening. These activities also can help to contribute to being active and gaining physical fitness.
How does Physical fitness benefit mental health?
• Depression
Being active has been proven to reduce depression. In a study by Harward HT Chan School of Public Health, it was found that walking for an hour daily or even running for 15 minutes daily reduces the risk of depression by 26%. Exercise can treat mild or moderate depression as effectively as antidepressants. It also doesn’t have any side effects, unlike antidepressants. As exercise reduces inflammation, provides neural growth, and promotes feelings of calm and well-being, it is a powerful antidepressant. It releases endorphins a chemical in the brain that lifts you spirit and makes feel positive.
• Anxiety
When you are physically fit and y exercise regularly, it reduces stress a enhances positivity by releasing endorphins.
• Stress
Generally, when you are stressed, you may have backache or headache, or neck pain. All these things are associated with effects of stress i.e. increase in blood pressure, anxiety, etc. But when you are physically fit, that means your blood pressures levels are normal, you are calm and can manage your stress easily.
Physically fitness is very important for not only reducing the risk of physical health problems but also for reducing mental health problems and for good brain functioning. It is a fact that physical health and brain functioning go hand-in-hand. So we should maintain our physical health to maintain our brain functioning.
