Impacts of Exercise on Mental Health and Learning

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There are many benefits of exercise on the human body, not only physical, but mental. Research has proved that exercise can benefit your mental health and your ability to learn. Exercise has many positive effects on patients suffering from a mental health disorder, such as depression or anxiety. Exercise releases chemicals in the brain called serotonin, which is a mood booster. The chemical can combat depression and help alleviate some of the symptoms that come with it. Exercise is shown to alleviate 25 different medical conditions, whether through secondary or direct benefits, such as Alzheimer’s. People who exercise are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s than ones who don’t because exercise releases chemicals in the brain that support the healthy growth of neurons. Exercise can also serve as a mental “buffer” against problems such as stress, which prevents further problems like depression. This creates a mental resistance to outside forces, which aid in day to day life. Exercise can also help in education. Studies show that schools with academic programs that lack physical education perform worse than ones that have a more robust system. Majority of research indicates that replacing some academic periods with physical education results in higher academic achievement for students and improved concentration and focus. Exercise is shown to increase circulation and blood flow to the brain which increases cognitive function and the efficiency of the brain, having a profound impact on the human body and its ability to function efficiently. Exercise also engages the prefrontal cortex and stimulates it, which is responsible for complex thought and problem solving. This is proven to increase creativity, concentration and test scores. Stu... ... middle of paper ... ...e-childrens-learning>. Rogers, Chris . "What Is the Relationship Between Physical Exercise & Learning Ability?." LIVESTRONG.COM. N.p., 16 Aug. 2013. Web. 6 Jan. 2014. . "The exercise effect." http://www.apa.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Dec. 2013. . staff, Mayo. "Depression and anxiety: Exercise eases symptoms." Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 1 Oct. 2011. Web. 9 Dec. 2013. . Davis-Laak, Paula. "7easy resilience strategies for busy, complicated lives." Phsycology today. N.P, 10 Jan. 2011. Web. 9 Dec. 2013. .

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