I Hate to Say It, But Exercise Lovers May Actually Have a Point

Written By: Magdalena Styś

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Even though I’m not exactly a couch potato, I wouldn’t call myself an exercise junkie either - I bike quite a lot and I’m known to be a very fast walker on even the most challenging terrains, but I never put much effort into staying fit. I do, however, know a lot of people who exercise like it’s their last day on Earth, and link their exercise routines to the reason why their lives are going well. I always considered those claims to be an exaggeration and some sort of placebo effect rather than having an actual, scientific explanation. Because sure, exercise helps your body stay fit, which can prevent a lot of health problems, but it won’t make you smarter or calmer, right?

Right?

I hate being proven wrong, so I write this with hesitation, but: after doing some research, I found out that regular exercise is one of the most powerful things that one can easily implement into their life, that will keep it in check.

First of all, exercise can make you less anxious. According to a study done in 2018, exercise programs are effective in the treatment of anxiety; more intense exercise was found to be more effective than low intensity exercise.

As much as reducing anxiety levels is great already, the surprising outcomes of regular exercise don’t end there. Rigorous exercise has been shown to increase levels of BDNF, or brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which is a protein produced inside nerve cells that improves the work of your brain. Low BDNF levels have been linked to Alzheimer’s disease, sclerosis, and anxiety, and the higher your BDNF levels are, the easier it is for you to learn and memorize things. Exercising is one of the ways in which you can increase your BDNF levels, and studies indicate that it’s especially beneficial to memory.

Unfortunately, I have to accept my defeat and come to terms with the fact that my mom and PE teachers weren’t encouraging me to exercise regularly just for the sake of it. Does anyone want to become running buddies?

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SOURCES

• photo credits

• "What Is BDNF And What Does It Do?". Examined Existence, https://examinedexistence.com/what-is-bdnf-and-what-does-it-do/.

• Ahmad, Samoon. "The Link Between BDNF And Neuroplasticity". Psychology Today, 2020, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/balanced/202001/the-link-between-bdnf-and-neuroplasticity.

• Aylett, Elizabeth et al. "Exercise In The Treatment Of Clinical Anxiety In General Practice – A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis". BMC Health Services Research, vol 18, no. 1, 2018. Springer Science And Business Media LLC, doi:10.1186/s12913-018-3313-5.