Bad news couch potatoes, being physically inactive can make you less of a genius than people who regularly flex their muscles and lift weights. Always sitting idly even with a book or a crossword puzzle will not make you smarter than people who jog, swim and go to the gym. This is because physical exercise makes a person more mentally fit than those who do not exercise at all. Many recent studies conclude that the brain can benefit from physical exercise affirming claims of exercise buffs that exercising makes them more mentally alert and improves their memory.  A set of regular workout routines is essential.

 

In a 2005 study published in the Journal of Exercise Physiology, researchers gathered the test scores of around 900,000 grade school students in California in reading and math achievement tests. They compared the test results to how well the students fared in a state-mandated fitness test. Students who met only 3 out of 6 fitness goals averaged 48 in their math scores while those who achieved the 6 fitness goals averaged 60. What do these results mean? It means that the fittest students are those who scored best in their achievement tests confirming claims that exercise can indeed benefit the brain. The study highlights the importance of physical exercise to keep a person academically excellent.

 

Exercise sharpens the mind, improves the short term memory and a person’s ability to process data. If you wonder why exercise is good not just for the body but also for the brain, it is because physical exercise helps nerve cells multiply. Nerve cells play an important role in the nervous system to process and transmit information from the body to the brain or vice versa. Exercise also helps in strengthening the connection of these nerve cells which ensures better relay of messages resulting in the brain’s improved ability to receive and process data. You therefore keep your nerve cells active and prevent them from degenerating earlier if you engage in regular exercise.

 

Researchers have not yet fully figured out the right amount and type of exercise that a person needs to boost brain power so before you plan to exhaust yourself in excessive exercise to become more mentally sound and alert, you might find it a better option to start out with moderate exercises like walking, swimming and recreational dancing. What researchers are certain, however, is that physical exercise can also be beneficial to brains and nerve cells that are damaged which is good news and additional alternative treatments to people who have spinal cord injuries and those who suffer from Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.

 

In addition to this, exercise is also helpful in reducing stress and anxiety which is good for you if you are stressed out with your job. So, if you are looking for ways to keep your brain sound and healthy, it is best to step out for a walk or a jog, you will surely love having a healthier brain in a healthier body.