Western culture has often identified the human body and mind as two distinct entities, often even opposed to each other. However, all the most recent studies lead to confirming exactly the opposite idea, namely that there is a very strong interdependence between our body and our mind (the term “mind” here indicates the complex of intellectual and intellectual possibilities and contents spirituality of an individual).
Fitness for the mind
The stereotype depicts brilliant minds wandering the library shelves and avoiding gym and sweat in every way. Nothing could be more wrong. Some research shows that kids who regularly play sports are better at mathematics.
“ There are many studies that show how working out in the gym, even just 30 minutes a day three times a week, has a massive positive impact on your life. Not just physically, but mentally, the secret to happiness is exercise. I think a lot of poker players are smart enough to understand that if they want to be happy they need to exercise. The best way to get out of depression is to do something, to exercise .”
In fact, poker players spend many hours sitting at the gaming table and this has a very profound impact on their lifestyle and the outcome of their game. This trend is common to a large part of Westerners who work in the office every day and are characterized by a strong tendency to be
sedentary .
Fitness as a remedy for depression
Our muscles are closely linked to our brain activity. In fact, the human brain responds very positively to constant physical activity. The regular practice of moderate physical activity causes the nervous system to release a greater quantity of endorphins , substances with powerful analgesic and exciting activity. Constant exercise can in fact be considered a valid remedy to combat some forms of depression .
Fitness to improve concentration and memory
Sport also seems capable of significantly improving man’s intellectual performance . To explain the phenomenon, it is hypothesized that it is precisely the increase in blood circulation that positively influences brain activity, contributing to significantly oxygenate the brain areas that are the seat of our learning , attention and memory faculties .body and mind
The more blood supplies the brain, the more the brain tissue is nourished. According to some studies conducted by Columbia University in New York and the University of Illinois, physical exercise increases the number of functioning brain neurons.
Some volunteers involved in the study, after walking, cycling or swimming 3 times a week for a year, recorded better results on memory tests.
It also seems that in the same brain area activated by physical movement, a protein known as BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) develops, capable of making nerve cells grow and prolonging their existence.
Do sports to be multitasking
According to a study by the University of Groningen (Holland), sporting activity helps you to be ” multitasking “. Dutch researchers in fact observed 109 people suffering from dementia and divided them into three groups. The first group walked at a brisk pace 4 times a week for 30 minutes, the members of the second group walked at a brisk pace twice a week combining this with two half-hour weight sessions, while the third group did not follow any type of training.
After nine weeks, all the patients carried out a series of tests that assessed their ” executive function “, which measured their ability to reason, plan their action and therefore carry out multiple tasks simultaneously. Those who performed the most intense training achieved the best results.
Sports activity therefore improves memory, reduces stress, helps control hunger, fight depression and slows down the decline associated with degenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease
