Can everyday activities like sprinting up the stairs or taking out the trash make you smarter?
It all clicked for me at a seminar I attended last week.
After sitting for hours listening to boring statistics, my mind wandered. No matter how hard I tried, I could not focus on what the speaker was saying.
Maybe he noticed that many of us were struggling to stay awake because, out of nowhere, he suggested we all do a few jumping jacks to “shake off our cobwebs.”
At first, we thought he was joking, but then he stepped away from the podium and did a few himself. Everyone in the room soon followed, and we were all laughing at this silly game.
I was embarrassed to attempt a jumping jack in my business suit, but after doing just one – suddenly everything changed. My eyes widened with newfound alertness, and energy surged through me like a shockwave. My mind was once again alert, and every word the lecturer spoke for the next two hours was crystal clear and perfectly understandable.
Boost Your Cognitive Function
My experience was not unusual. A new study shows that moderate to vigorous physical activity is a powerful tool for boosting not only physical health but also cognitive function. While it is well-established that regular exercise can lead to long-term improvements in brain function, (1) recent research has shown that physical activity can also have immediate cognitive benefits, making you smarter instantly.
For instance, this study tracked 4,481 people’s 24-hour activities for a week and considered how those actions influenced short-term memory, problem-solving skills, and processing power. The study evaluated whether cognition declined when moderate physical activity was replaced with sedentary activities such as sitting. Experts determined moderate to vigorous physical activity improved memory, organizational skills, and focus. (2)
Physical activity has long been known to have numerous benefits for your overall health, including reducing the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. What’s new with this study is that it shows that daily moderate to vigorous physical activity improves your brain function on the spot.
How it Works
Physical activity increases blood flow throughout the body, including to your brain. This increased blood flow delivers oxygen and nutrients to brain cells, enhancing your cognitive function. Studies have shown that even short bursts of exercise can increase blood flow to the brain, immediately improving mental performance. (3)
Exercise has been shown to increase the release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. These chemicals are involved in many cognitive processes, including attention, memory, and learning. By increasing the release of these neurotransmitters, physical activity can enhance these brain processes, leading to improved cognitive function. (4)
So, the next time your feel mentally sluggish and your brain needs an instant boost, try a few jumping jacks, do a few stair sprints, or take a brisk walk. Not only will you feel more alert afterward, but you’ll also gain clarity.
How to Get Your Body Moving
If jumping jacks – or any vigorous activity is a “no-go” due to your aching joints, try adding Stonehenge Health® Dynamic Turmeric™ to your daily routine. It could jumpstart your movement in no time.
Turmeric has been used for centuries to keep inflammation at bay and to promote joint health. Not only that, Turmeric has anti-aging and antioxidant properties that help protect your heart and your brain.
Dynamic Turmeric™ is a potent 1,650mg of Turmeric Curcumin Complex, Ginger Root Extract, and BioPerine® to maximize absorption. Take this revolutionary supplement daily along with other healthy lifestyle choices for big-time reductions in joint discomfort & inflammation.
Sources:
1. John D. Omura, David R. Brown, Lisa C. McGuire, Christopher A. Taylor, Janet E. Fulton, Susan A. Carlson, Cross-sectional association between physical activity level and subjective cognitive decline among US adults aged ≥45 years, 2015, Preventive Medicine, Volume 141, 2020, 106279, ISSN 0091-7435 | sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0091743520303030
2. Mitchell, John J, Joanna M Blodgett, Sebastien FM Chastin, Barbara J Jefferis, S Goya Wannamethee, and Mark Hamer. “Exploring the Associations of Daily Movement Behaviours and Mid-Life Cognition: A Compositional Analysis of the 1970 British Cohort Study.” Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. BMJ Publishing Group Ltd, March 1, 2023. | jech.bmj.com/content/77/3/189
3. “Exercise can boost your memory and thinking skills.” Harvard Medical School, Harvard Health Publishing. | health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/exercise-can-boost-your-memory-and-thinking-skills
