New book presents the benefits working out has on our brain and wellbeing

Jan 21, 2009 18:31 GMT  ·  By
Exercise more to be smarter and happier, Dr. John Ratey says in his new book
   Exercise more to be smarter and happier, Dr. John Ratey says in his new book

We know only too well that exercise is good for countless reasons, like toning muscles and losing weight, bringing about a boost of energy and keeping the risk of having a stroke at the minimum, and so on and so forth. Dr. John Ratey, a top psychiatrist at Harvard Medical School, says in his new book, “SPARK!,” that exercise is also good for the brain, in that it makes us smarter, more alert and able to memorize things faster and for longer periods of time.

This is the time to forget about fish oil and puzzles, Ratey recommneds, as the Daily Mail reports, because they stand no chance when it comes to being compared to the benefits of physical exercise. Practiced on a daily basis, workouts actually do improve the functions of the brain, boosting the learning abilities and making the process in itself easier, while also reversing the signs of aging and reducing stress considerably. So what working out really does for us is make us younger, smarter, happier and better at anything we might undertake at a certain point in our life.

Ratey has comprised more than 10 years worth of studies and research in “SPARK!,” and has come to the conclusion that exercise is the single most powerful “tool” we have against the very “infrastructures” of our body and their breaking down, which translates into the fitter we are, the smarter we get.

This happens because physical exercise unleashes certain chemicals in the bloodstream, which leads to direct, positive changes in the brain. One of these chemicals is the protein called BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), known for the impact it has on brain development. At the same time, Ratey explains, the effects of BDNF are reduced because of the stress of modern living.

“Dr. Ratey explains that brain cells, or neurons, connect to one another through ‘leaves’ on tree-like branches. The BDNF, he says, works like Miracle-Gro for the brain, causing these branches to grow, so enhancing brain function.” the Daily Mail informs. The good news here is that even the seemingly smallest physical activity can trigger release of BDNF, so this means that those not used to working out on a constant basis can start gradually, without straining themselves too much.

However, just so we get an idea of what we should be doing to boost the activity of our brain, and be healthier and happier, Ratey also offers a few hints as to the exercises we could take up to get there. “If you're really keen to maximize your brain power, you could work up to Dr. Ratey’s gold standard: one hour of moderate exercise (power walking or jogging) four days a week, a shorter (45-minute) burst of intense activity (such as squash or running) twice a week, combined with strength training and balance drills. But when it comes to brain power, any activity is better than none.” the Mail informs.

Dr. John Ratey’s “SPARK!,” published at the beginning of this year, is now out for sale in bookstores.