A fit body goes with a fit mind

October 8th, 2019

Have your trainers been sitting by the front door for days and use your workout gear to slouch around the house in? Well, here’s a mind-blowing heads up…

It’s time to change that lazy habit and get moving not only to improve your physical shape and well being but to actually change the structure of your brain and improve your cognitive function. Yet another great reason to exercise and hopefully, knowing that – is the motivation that you need to start raising your pulse rate.

Remember, physical activity doesn’t have to involve trainers and pounding the streets, a bad back and weak knees shouldn’t stop you from some form of exercise.

Studies have revealed that a fit body goes with a fit mind.

Experts have revealed that conditions that affect memory and cognition such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, schizophrenia and depression can be alleviated in part by boosting physical fitness.

Fitness is a preventable risk factor for brain health.

Physical fitness improves cognitive function…

We all know that exercise and physical activity is good for your health, but what about your mental state? Recent research has further backed results that physical activity enhances your brain and boosts cognitive performance. When exercising, white matter in the brain relays messages between different parts of the organ and improves brain health. So, get moving because studies have shown that inactivity can decrease cognitive performance. Are you struggling to concentrate when you sit for hours trying to work or been stuck on a crossword for days? Go for a walk, hit the gym, swim laps – do anything that raises that pulse rate and your life could become so much clearer and healthier.

White matter – the brain’s superhighway…

White matter is the bulk of the deep parts of the brain. It consists of bundles of axons, long slender nerve cells and the whiteness comes from a waxy coating. The nerve cells pass messages to distant regions of the brain, the brain’s superhighway. White matter keeps developing into your 20’s but like many organs in the body, it can carry disease. White matter disease is progressive and can develop with age resulting in conditions such as Alzheimer’s or Multiple Sclerosis.

Keep fit for a healthy brain.

The detailed study…Physical fitness improves cognitive function

According to MedicalNewsToday, the largest most detailed study of its type concludes that there are links between fitness, white matter and improved cognitive performance. The white matter that we all have in our brain need be healthy, as this is linked with mental prowess and cognition. It was also found that physical activity boosts the cognitive performance of people of all ages and with cognitive impairments. The study discusses the different variables that play an important role in their findings such as blood pressure, body mass index, glucose levels etc.

Data from the Human Connectome Project has been used by scientists from the University Hospital Muenster to review how physical fitness impacts mental and cognitive health. In this study, 1204 participants undertook a 2 minute walking test to assess various skills, including reasoning, memory and judgement. A further 1206 MRI brain scans were also reviewed from adults with an average age of 28.8 years old.

The results of this showed that:

People who performed better in cogition tests also performed better in physical activity tests (with the exception of one individual).
Cognitive performance reduces as fitness levels reduce, even in younger people.
Fitness levels are directly related to cognition, and maintaining basic fitness should help to prevent against brain problems

How can you get more white matter?

Once you reach your 50’s you can’t create more white matter in your brain but you can delay it depleting rapidly by looking after your health by:

Performing 2.5hrs of exercise a week
Giving up smoking
Reducing alcohol consumption, even better – don’t drink alcohol at all
Avoiding high blood pressure
Eating a diet that is low in fat, sugar and salt
Sleeping well

Fit body, fit brain and motivation…

With all that knowledge about fitness and the structure of the brain are you still struggling to find the motivation to exercise? Have you ever felt you were just going through the motions? Struggling to feel engaged with seemingly mundane aspects of your fitness journey?

Do you lack energy and need a boost? For optimum physical performance, natural cutting-edge supplements are available such as Boost Pro: https://profound-health.com/product/boost-pro/

Do you need relief for muscle, tendon and joint pains experienced after your workouts? Joint Pro is a peptide-based cream to help relieve overworked muscles, aching joint or a related injury. : https://profound-health.com/product/jointpro-joints-and-muscle-relief-cream/

“To keep the body in good health is a duty…otherwise, we shall not be able to keep the mind strong and clear.” – Buddha

References and further reading…