With the recent stats coming out regarding the fitness of various areas of the country, it’s important to mention that what happens to our body also affects our brain. In a sense, a healthy body = a healthy brain. I can remember the times when my body wasn’t fit and it affected how my mind functioned. The more unfit I got, the higher my mental stress levels rose.
In March 2013, the Illinois State Board of Education released a study they did regarding how physical fitness through activity affected one’s executive function (cognition). It’s interesting that from their research showed that students who exercised prior to their regular classes had higher mental functioning versus those that exercised after school. It’s ironic that in the past, Asian business organizations had their employees exercise prior to work. My Japanese mother told me that they even did that when she was in school.
Now I’m thinking “What the heck?” If this was done in the past, why don’t we do this now? It worked back then and nowadays we’ve simply stopped exercising and have gotten fatter and dumber.
When I engaged in physical activity due to the sports I played, my mental functioning increased. Yes, for years we’ve heard the term, “dumb jock”, right? In reality, that could be the farthest from the truth. Sure, we hear about football players having brain injury. That’s not what I’m referring to. I was a jock and it helped make me smarter. I think it’s high time we dispel that myth.
Exercise helps to express a gene called the Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) which leads to the creation of protein of the same name. This protein is important for the growth of the hippocampus, which is critical for learning and memory. I’ve already mentioned quite a bit on this in previous posts.
Getting fit is very important through all phases of life. Older adults who have been sedentary can benefit greatly by getting back into fitness. In a 2009 study by Stanley Colcombe and Arthur Kramer, the authors looked at 18 previous intervention studies and concluded that cognition increased across the board. Not only did getting physically fit help their bodies, but their brains gained massive benefits. This was shown in a later study as well.
It’s important to note that where you’re at now regarding your level of physical fitness doesn’t have to stay that way. You can improve by getting into a regular bout of exercise every day and even throughout the day. The key is to be consistent and don’t just rely on going to the gym. Physical movement should your norm, not set aside for a few minutes a day.
My suggestion to you is that if you want a healthy brain, then you’ve got to get and maintain a healthy body. Thinkers are movers. I’ve already shared many articles here and elsewhere regarding getting into good physical shape. My challenge to you is to get yourself moving. That means now. Me too!
Cheers,
Bob Choat, “Transformational Master Black Belt” 
America’s #1 Mind-Body Transformation Expert and author of Mind Your Own Fitness
