In a Canadian study, it was recently found that a mere 30 minutes of daily exercise not only reduces obesity levels, but it also improves cognitive function. Participants found they were able to think more clearly, make faster decisions and had improved memory at the end of the day when they exercised daily.
Researchers at the Montreal Heart Institute had individuals who were in their late 40s and overweight exercise twice weekly and tested their cognitive functioning performance afterward. They found that after exercising, study participants had improved recall and better decision making skills than before physical activity. Additionally, they found that the more often the study participants were physically active, the more their cognitive functions improved.
According to lead study author, Dr. Martin Juneau, cognitive function normally drops as a part of the aging process. This drop in cognitive abilities can be especially dramatic for individuals with heart disease. However, with these study results, it is now clear that it is possible to fight cognitive decline through exercise and physical activity.
Also of note is the improvement to mental acuity with weight loss. Many study participants demonstrated marked improvement on cognitive function tests as they lost weight. In fact, the more weight they lost, the better they performed on the tests.
Weight loss is also associated with numerous other benefits. Self esteem and confidence improve for many people as they lose weight and their desire to participate in social activities also increases. Weight loss and physical activity are also highly encouraged for individuals who have been diagnosed with cancer, since these activities improve overall health and survival rates.
Do you find that you think better when you work out regularly? What do you feel like when you skip a day or two of physical activity? Let us know in the comments!
– The Alternative Daily