More fitness for body AND brain…
Running is one of the best activities for those who want to lose weight, get in shape, and improve their overall health. It promotes better muscular and cardiovascular endurance, strengthens the core and lower body, improves circulation, releases endorphins, and so much more. It’s truly an amazing form of exercise, one that offers A LOT of health benefits.
Here’s a new benefit for you: it creates better functional connectivity in your brain!
A team of researchers from the University of Arizona examined the effects of running on the brain. MRIs were taken of cross-country runners, along with MRIs of adult males who didn’t run or engage in regular physical activity for no less than one year. The participants were all similarly aged, had the same education level, and had similar body mass indexes. Though their bodies might not have shown much difference, there certainly was one in their brain!
The MRIs showed that the runners had much greater connectivity between the various areas of the brain. One of the brain areas, the frontal cortex, is vital for planning, making decisions, and carrying out tasks. The runners had more connections to and from this part of the brain, giving them greater abilities than the non-runners.
This study proved that runners tend to have better brain function than non-runners, especially those who engage in less physical activity. But it led to another useful discovery: running can help to reduce the risk of degenerative disease.
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Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative problems alter the connectivity of the brain. The build-up of plaque or the degradation of the brain tissue can reduce brain function and prevent the parts of the brain from communicating effectively. This leads to neurological problems.
However, if running can INCREASE the connectivity of the brain, it will help to stave off the neurological problems. Increasing the connections between the parts of the brain will stop the brain from declining. Essentially, running may be able to combat Alzheimer’s and other brain problems.
The research indicates that running at a young age (18-25, in the case of this study) may be helpful later in life. The connectivity in your brain will improve overall brain function, but it will also prevent cognitive decline as a result of degenerative diseases. The more researchers learn about healthy young brains, the more they can take steps to prevent the degradation of the brain with age.
But even if you don’t have a family history of Alzheimer’s or other brain problems, it’s still a good idea to run. Running can increase the connectivity in your brain, helping you to think quicker, plan more effectively, and make decisions with greater ease.
Running is a sort of self-hypnosis. As you focus on your breathing, the sensations running through your body, and the step-step-step of your run, you enter a sort of meditative trance that will clear your mind, reduce anxieties, and help to improve your brain function. You’ll find that running does wonders for your mental state as well as your physical.
Of course, there are few ways more effective for weight loss and fat burning than running. Running is a form of low-intensity, steady state exercise that will target fat instead of glucose for energy. You’ll have to spend more time running to see results, but it’s the best way to activate stored fat for use. Mixing running into your weekly workout routine will improve your physical condition, and it will make your mind work better for many more years to come.
