Focus! How Physical Health & Fitness Can Help With Mental Clarity

Need an extra boost of motivation to head to the gym or get outside for a long run? The benefits of your fitness goals stretch beyond your physical health, these things are also good for your brain.

It’s true! While we’re working the calories off on an outdoor hike or in a yoga class, our brain is arming itself against anxiety and depression, forming new neurons and improving its function.

Here are 6 things to know about the connection between physical fitness and mental clarity:

1. Exercise increases serotonin, which affects mood and arousal, and has been proven to prevent or reduce incidences of depression and anxiety.
2. Exercise increases oxygen and nutrient flow.
3. Exercise and sleep are natural promoters of neurogenesis, the formation of new neurons (and, exercise and sleep are major stress busters).
4. Studies have shown that advanced-aged adults randomly assigned to aerobic exercise programs exhibited enhanced memory, sharpened judgment, and reduced risk of significant cognitive decline.
5. Research has also shown that Alzheimer’s is less common among those who regularly exercise.
6. Exercise is a predictor of health and longevity.