September 11, 2024
Walking The Brain - 8 Ways To Improve Your Brain By Walking
Your Brain Needs A Walk?
It may surprise you to hear that something as simple as walking can improve your brainpower. It doesn’t even have to be full-on power walking. Even a twenty or thirty minute walk during your lunch break can have a positive impact on your brain!
I personally walk every day for up to 90 minutes at a time and I can vouch for the statement above!
Here are eight ways science has proven that walking is excellent for your brain.
1. Walking The Brain Helps Lower Your Risk of Depression
Walking is an excellent way to improve your mental health. A 2018 study showed that any kind of moderate aerobic exercise can boost your brain health. It also lowers your risk of developing depression by a third.
2. It Improves Your Cognitive Skills
Several studies have shown that between twenty and thirty minutes of daily aerobic exercise, including walking, improves cognitive function and memory.
3. Walking The Brain Stimulates Endorphins
Just ten minutes of walking is enough to start your brain releasing endorphins. These are the brain chemicals that lower stress, boost your mental health, and make you feel good. You’ve heard of the runner’s high? Well, you can get a similar positive rush from a brisk walk!
4. Walking Releases BDNF, the Brain’s Magic Protein
BDNF is a "magic protein" that helps to rewire and build new neural pathways in the brain. Scientists believe it can even help lower the risk of Alzheimer’s Disease. In general cardiovascular exercise is an easy way to stimulate the production of BDNF and keep your brain in peak condition.
5. It Lowers Physical and Mental Fatigue
A 2008 study by the University of Georgia found that just three sessions a week of a low-intensity exercise like walking can reduce fatigue levels by as much as 65 percent.
6. Walking The Brain Builds Hippocampus Strength
Your hippocampus is the key part of the brain for forming and storing memories. Research has shown that even brief walks can actually increase the size and efficiency of your hippocampus.
7. It Improves Creativity
Artists, writers, and philosophers have long known that a good walk clears the fog! Science backs this up with a 2014 study by Stanford University. It showed that walking increases your creative output by up to sixty percent.
8. Walking The Brain Increases Blood Flow to the Brain
Blood is vital for every organ in your body, not least of all, your brain. That magic twenty minutes is all it takes to increase the blood flow to your brain to keep it active and healthy.
Conclusion
When we consider how vital our brain function is, it is fitting for us to do everything we possibly can to maintain its health. Walking is a simple and easy exercise to do that requires no equipment and no huge amounts of time...
...unless you want to walk from Paris to Beijing!
