14. #13 Exercise Helps Improve Your Brain Power
We’ve talked about how exercise reduces your risk for dementia, and the truth is that doctors aren’t exactly sure how it works. It may be something as simple as the fact that your brain gets more oxygen when you exercise. However, they do know how exercise helps in other areas of your brain function.
Exercise improves focus, memory, and clarity. Studies show that exercise increases the number of cells in a few key areas of the brain including the memory centers. A study with older women who had mildcognitive impairment found that weight training helped improve cognitive function. Women were able to improve their recall.
Higher energy levels combined with the feel good state that endorphins produce also helps improve cognitive function, clarity, and focus. You’ll be able to think more quickly and to focus on tasks and activities for longer periods of time without getting distracted.
What Types of Exercises Improve Brain Power?
It appears that a combination of aerobic and strength training exercises work best to provide broad scope brain function improvements. CrossFit is one activity that embraces both on a regularbasis. It’s an intense form of exercise that may not be for everyone. However, it also has wide appeal because of the community that’s formed at a CrossFit facility. If you enjoy a diverse workout and learning new things, CrossFit may be an option for you.
Tip – Choose exercises that you can commit to on a daily basis. Even if you can only squeeze in ten minutes at a time, it adds up. For example, you might do ten minutes of yoga in the morning. Go for a brisk ten-minute walk at lunchtime, and spend 10 minutes at the end of the day doing bodyweight exercises like squats, push-ups, and sit-ups.