subject: Exercise Your Way To A Better Memory [print this page] Exercise has been associated with numerous health benefits for some time. It is now thought that exercising regularly may also be able to assist you with improving your memory. Specifically, aerobic exercise is believed to be linked with the ability to improve the flow of oxygen to the brain along with other nutrients in order to improve recall ability.
Whenever the level of oxygen in the brain is low, the ability to concentrate is impaired. When you are not able to concentrate, it becomes increasingly difficult to recall information that you have previously learned as well as to learn new information. Several studies have found that a critical way to improve the flow of oxygen to the brain is to participate in physical activity.
How much do you need to exercise in order to improve your memory? Of course, it is always a good idea to exercise regularly, but even just taking a brisk walk for 15 minutes each day will improve your ability to focus.
Keep in mind that if you are not accustomed to exercising regularly, it is a good idea to start out slowly in order to be sure you do not overexert yourself or experience an injury. Start out with a light cardio program at home. There are numerous excellent workout programs on DVD that make it quite easy to work out right at home.
Research has also indicated that aerobic activity also makes it possible for you to actually grow entirely new brain cells. These brain cells are known as neurons and are located within the hippocampus, the main part of the brain that is responsible for one's memory. A study conducted by the National Academy of Sciences revealed that vigorously participating in aerobic exercise over a three month period was capable of building new neurons in this crucial area of the brain as well as improving mental recall. In fact, this study found that exercise was so critical it was capable of producing a 30% increase in brain cells. The participants in this particular study engaged in exercise between one and two hours per day; four days per week. While you need not go to that extent, if you want to improve your memory as well as experience the other benefits associated with exercise, it is important to focus on exercising a minimum of three days per week for at least 30 minutes each session.
