Exercise – The ‘Smart Pill’

I have been reading a book called Spark, written by John J. Ratey. This book has opened my eyes to how physical activity and education are not separate but connected.

Aerobic exercise brings many benefits to not just the body but the mind as well.

Exercise promotes a perfect learning environment in the brain. It encourages nerve cells to bind together, new neurons to grow, and older neurons to survive. These developments are the basis for logging new info into the brain and retaining old info.

For the brain, exercise…
- improves attention, motivation, and alertness
- decreases stress
- improves memory
- increases brain activity for learning and complex thinking
- increases number of brain cells
- decreases anxiety

Ratey explains by saying, “Exercise can be used as a medicine -- a ‘smart pill,’ if you will.”

Next time you have a test in school or a project at work; don’t eat junk food to help you get through this demanding time – Exercise!

“In order for man to succeed in life, God provided him with two means, education and physical activity. Not separately, one for the soul and the other for the body, but for the two together. With these two means, man can attain perfection.” - Plato