We all know how great working out is for our bodies, but what about our brains?? According to a study from UC Davis Medical Center, the effects of exercise are so powerful that research indicates it could regulate mood as successfully as antidepressants! 20 minutes on a bike raises levels of glutamate and GABA, two neurotransmitters that help the brain bounce back from negative emotions. And, not only are your workouts making you happier, but they are growing your brain! As you sweat, fatty acids in your system break down into ketone bodies. These molecules activate the gene responsible for producing brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) – BDNF spurs the creations of new brain cells, helps nerve cells communicate and strengthens brain synapses to improve reaction time, memory and decision-making!!! And if that wasn’t enough, exercise increases volume in the hippocampus (the area of the brain that regulates memory) by 2% every year! These new cells and increased neural connections improve longterm and short-term memory.
RIDE ON!!!