Exercise: Changing More Than Appearance

exercise-happiness-1

One form of therapy which can be completely free is exercise. Although exercise is commonly used to increase stamina, loose weight, or gain muscle it also have other effects on our bodies which can not be physically seen.

A study was conducted that used 54 adults who ranged in ages from eighteen to thirty six. They found these adults in the surrounding colleges and communities in Hanover N.H. which is where Dartmouth College is located. None of the fifty four adults had been exercising regularly so participating in a physical activity routine was relatively new for all of them. During the first visit they took to the lab, the participants gave blood which was used by the researchers to do genetic testing. They also completed surveys which allowed researchers to gain information about their current moods and state of health. Another test was also conducted which evaluated their ability to memorize images which flashed across a computer screen. Although they may seem to be random, all of these test are actual responsible for measuring activity in various parts of the participants brain. After the tests were completed, they were randomly separated in to two groups. One of the groups exercised and the other did not. The group which was not sedentary had to walk or jog for at least a half hour for four times a week. After the four weeks had concluded the tests which were performed in the beginning of the study were then repeated. The participants who worked out dramatically increased their scores on the memory and mood tests. Those who worked out the morning of the tests were reported to have less anxiety than those who did not work out that morning. This study shows that there is definitely a link between physical activity and the strength of our brain.

I personally agree with the findings of this study. There is no question that exercise is not only good for our appearance but also our cognition. I believe that is was well conducted but some things could have been better controlled. One detail they left out of the study was the gender of the participants. Men and woman are clearly biologically different so I feel as if each gender could have been effected differently by the exercise they participated in. I also believe that another third variable which can be accounted for is that the participants were all doing cardio but they were not participating in the same exact exercise regimen. I think in order to improve this study, the researches could have chose to have the half of the participants who were exercising to do the same exercise and the same speed for the same exact duration.

Chemically speaking, science also has proof that exercise has the ability to give the participant a sense of euphoria. While exercising and moving the body, the amount of activity in ones brain increases dramatically. It also causes our heart rates to augment and this leads to our body producing the protein called BDNF. This stands for Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor. This protein has the ability to reset ones memory neurons. When we exercise, this is why we are able to feel relaxed and as if our problems do not exist because the chemicals our bodies are creating make it seem as if they are gone. While the BDNF is being released, endorphins are also released. Endorphins are hormones produced by our bodies in order to fight stress. Endorphins have the ability to block any pain we may feel and they are often linked to causing a feeling of happiness. The emotional effects of exercising have often been compared to those of nicotine and heroin. One quick and interesting fact is that when one starts to exercise after being sedentary, the feeling of happiness is the most intense. Because the effects of exercise are similar to a drug, when you first start working out the feeling of happiness is more intense. As one begins to work out more, it takes more exercise in order for ones bodies to release high amounts of endorphins. This can be viewed in a similar way that a drug addition works. 3025957-inline-i-1-what-happens-to-our-brains-when-we-exercise-and-how-it-makes-us-happier

There are certain techniques that can be used in order to maximize the amount of endorphins that your body releases. The main one as simple as it sounds if focus. The body reeks the most benefit from ones first twenty minutes of their work out so if you are able to remain focused and motivated for simply twenty minutes a day, one is able to obtain a solid amount of endorphins which in turn leads to a more calm and happy person!

Sources:

http://www.fastcompany.com/3025957/work-smart/what-happens-to-our-brains-when-we-exercise-and-how-it-makes-us-happier

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/30/how-exercise-can-jog-the-memory/

http://www.brainhq.com/brain-resources/everyday-brain-fitness/physical-exercise

http://www.brainhealth.utdallas.edu/blog_page/study-finds-aerobic-exercise-improves-memory-brain-function-and-physical-fi

One thought on “Exercise: Changing More Than Appearance

  1. Kendall Agosto

    I always find that I am the happiest right after a good work out. Regarding the study you mentioned above, the sample size is way to small and we also don’t know if it was random or not. The studies findings would be a lot more reliable had it been done using the Law of Large Numbers. Exercise is also good for mental well being because it allows people to forget about all the stress going on in the life and just focus on nothing for a little bit. And sometimes that is all you need to feel better, so working out is very beneficial.
    http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/stress-management/in-depth/exercise-and-stress/art-20044469

Leave a Reply