What Happens to Your Body When You Stop Exercising

What Happens to Your Body When You Stop Exercising?

By Dr. Mercola Evidence shows that physical exercise helps you build a brain that not only resists shrinkage as you age but also increases cognitive abilities. Exercise encourages your brain to work at optimum capacity by causing your nerve cells to multiply, strengthening their interconnections, and protecting them from damage. There are multiple mechanisms at play here, but some are becoming more understood than others. The rejuvenating role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is one of them. BDNF activates brain stem cells to convert into new neurons. It also triggers numerous other chemicals that promote neural health. Further, exercise provides protective effects to your brain through: The production of nerve-protecting compounds Improved development and survival of neurons Decreased risk of heart and blood vessel diseases Altering the way damaging proteins reside inside your brain, which appears to slow the development of Alzheimer's disease Promote Intelligence and Better Mood With Just 20 Minutes a Day A number of neurotransmitters, such as endorphins, serotonin, dopamine, glutamate, and GABA, are also triggered by exercise. Some of these are well known for their role in mood control. Exercise, in fact, is one of the most effective prevention and treatment strategies for depression. BDNF and endorphins are two of the primary factors triggered by exercise that help boost your mood, make you feel good, and sharpen your cognition. So, how much do you have to exercise in order to maintain a sunnier disposition and better memory long-term? According to a 2012 study published in the journal Neuroscience, the "secret" to increased productivity and happiness on any given day is a long-term investment in regular exercise.1 And a little each day appears to go further than a lot once or twice a week. "Those who had exercised during the preceding month but not on the day of testing generally did better on the memory test than those who had been sedentary, but did not perform nearly as well as those who had worked out that morning," the authors noted. The reasons for this can perhaps be best perceived visually. Take a look at these images, showing the dramatic increase in brain activity after a 20-minute walk, compared to sitting quietly for the same amount of time.

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