Those endorphins swimming in your body are the feel-good hormones that induce happiness and satisfaction after a tough workout. In fact, those same endorphins can actually be addictive, according to a study on Science Daily. I can think of worse things to be addicted to than exercise, but this just proves the point of the addictive power of "feeling good."
But aside from inducing feelings of happiness, there's actually another reason that exercise is good for us. A recent study carried out at the Sahlgrenska Academy and Sahlgrenska University Hospital reveals that young adults who are fit, also have a higher IQ. (I love this study -- it's genius!)
Even though the research was conducted on young adults, I have no doubt that exercise makes everyone smarter. I mean really, aren't you proving just how "smart" you are simply by taking steps towards a healthier body and healthier mind?
It's no secret that exercise is an effective way to boost those brain-happy chemicals and reduce the risk of depression, but it also increases your cardiovascular capacity (healthy heart and healthy lungs) and improves circulation, which improves detoxification and therefore lowers the risk of many diseases.
The strongest links between physical fitness and improved IQ are found in logical thinking and verbal comprehension. But it's only fitness that plays a role in the results for the IQ test -- not strength. "Being fit means that you also have good heart and lung capacity and that your brain gets plenty of oxygen," says Michael Nilsson, professor at the Sahlgrenska Academy and chief physician at the Sahlgrenska University Hospital. Makes sense, doesn't it?
"We have also shown that those youngsters who improve their physical fitness between the ages of 15 and 18 increase their cognitive performance," says Maria Åberg, researcher at the Sahlgrenska Academy and physician at Åby Health Centre. "This being the case, physical education is a subject that has an important place in schools, and is an absolute must if we want to do well in maths and other theoretical subjects."
The question that people always seem to ask is how much exercise is enough? This is a topic of much debate amongst personal trainers, university experts and family doctors. Sure there is an exact science, but really, at the end of the day we don't need science to tell us how much we should exercise, do we? We know it's good for us! My advice is this: if you are sedentary and sit all day in an office, staring at a computer screen only to come home and watch TV, then you need to get more movement into your day. Aim for movement 45 minutes of every single day and more if you have the time. Many people say that they don't have the energy and this is precisely why you need to exercise -- it will increase your energy.
This doesn't mean you have to drag yourself to the gym if you don't like fitness centres. Start simple: go for a power walk, a bike ride, go swimming, chase your kids around, take the stairs, park your car further away from the grocery store and carry ALL your grocery bags to the car instead of using a cart. Many of my clients tell me that they just don't have time to exercise. If you have time to watch 20 minutes of TV -- which I know most people do (and that is a gross understatement) -- then you definitely have time to get your booty moving!
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