According to people's inner needs. We crave a sense of security, self-worth, and meaning.

Many people place their sense of meaning on their work.

But life planning, career prospects, salary, leadership and colleagues, and so on, cannot be controlled by oneself. If that's the case, I suggest you instead control the parts that you can control. That is, to control one's own body.

Transforming your body will also give you meaning and increase your self-esteem.

And exercise is a way to transform the body.

So, what benefits can exercise bring us?

1、 Exercise transforms the brain

Exercise is like a 'brain engine'. During exercise, blood circulation accelerates, providing the brain with more oxygen and nutrients, just like charging one's own brain.

Some scientific studies have also shown that our learning state after exercise is more focused and efficient.

Professor Li Meijin, an expert in educational psychology, also said:“Those children who are particularly active on the playground generally excel in their studies.

So why is this happening? It's because exercise can change these things in the brain.

① Neuronal growth factor (BDNF).Exercise can increase the production of a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the brain. BDNF is crucial for the growth and survival of new neurons, as it helps improve long-term memory and learning abilities.

② Neuroplasticity.Exercise enhances brain plasticity by strengthening the connections between neurons, known as synapses. This enhanced connectivity enables the brain to process information more effectively and improve cognitive function.

③ Neurotransmitter regulation.Exercise affects various neurotransmitters in the brain, including dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. These chemicals are closely related to emotion regulation, motivation, attention, and reward mechanisms.

④ Hippocampus.The hippocampus is an area in the brain that is associated with memory formation. Exercise can increase the volume of the hippocampus, thereby improving memory and learning abilities.

So, exercise can transform the brain, making your thinking more agile and your reactions faster.

2、 Exercise enhances mental strength

Exercise not only transforms the brain, but also enhances our mental strength.

Exercise has been recommended by the UK healthcare authorities as one of the effective treatments for depression.

A comprehensive report covering 97 independent studies shows that exercise is 50% more effective than psychotherapy or medication in treating depression.

Why is this happening?

We produce substances such as dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin every time we exercise.

Serotonin can control bad emotions, impulses, anger, and aggressive behavior.

For example, uncontrolled brain activity can trigger depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. And doctors will use serotonin drugs to help people improve uncontrolled brain activity.

Norepinephrine is the first neurotransmitter studied by scientists to understand emotions. Scientists believe that it enhances signals that affect attention, cognition, motivation, and wakefulness.

Dopamine is considered a neurotransmitter that affects learning ability, reward system (satisfaction), attention, and movement, sometimes playing completely opposite roles in different parts of the brain.

Most medications that improve mental state typically target one or more of these three neurotransmitters.

Exercise, on the other hand, can produce these pleasurable chemicals in our bodies, which can help us cope with anxiety, depression, and attention deficit disorders.

John Lattie, a psychiatry professor at Harvard Medical School, studied the benefits of physical exercise and said:To some extent, physical exercise may be the treatment method that psychiatrists dream of

So, exercise is also considered the best antidote for anxiety and depression. Exercising more can make our emotions full and make us more optimistic and positive when facing challenges.

3、 Exercise enhances physical strength

In addition, exercise has a very obvious effect.

1. Strengthen muscles and enhance cardiovascular function.

Strong physical fitness is an external manifestation of the human body's condition, and exercise is the best way to enhance physical fitness. Conversely, changes in physical fitness levels also reflect the effectiveness of exercise and fitness. After a period of exercise, a person's physical condition will significantly improve, such as aerobic exercise improving cardiovascular function and resistance training promoting muscle and bone development.

2. Improve sleep.

In June 2024, a study published in the international academic journal "Public Library of Science Comprehensive" compared the effects of different measures such as exercise, diet, and sleep hygiene on sleep quality. The study found that strength training was the most effective in improving sleep and enhancing sleep quality!

The study included 2649 participants ranging in age from 16 to 62.2 years old, covering different populations such as people with poor sleep quality, obese individuals, postmenopausal women, and adults with insufficient exercise.

The final research found that:For people under the age of 65, strength training is the most effective non pharmacological method to improve sleep quality, more effective than aerobic exercises such as running and walking.

Strength training can put pressure on muscle tissue and send signals to the brain that the body needs better sleep to repair damage.

And because it changes the psychological state, it also helps with sleep.

3. Enhance immunity.

In addition, exercise is very useful for stimulating and improving immunity. According to demographic studies, people who exercise regularly have significantly better cellular immune function than those who do not exercise. The physical fitness of the elderly who often exercise moderately is obviously better than that of the elderly who do not exercise, which is reflected in the fact that they rarely catch colds, and the incidence rate of tumors is also relatively low.

When it comes to immunity, the human body has humoral immunity and cellular immunity, which have different functions and effects. Fluid immunity is like a logistics support force, providing logistical support; Cellular immunity is like frontline combat personnel, facing the enemy head-on. If they can all maintain their optimal state continuously, we can cope with the invasion of bacteria and viruses, and appropriate exercise can help them maintain their optimal state, which is why exercise improves immunity.

So, if you're feeling lost, you can do one thing: transform your bodyThe ability to control your own body is the meaning itself.

This article is reproduced from the official account "Dr. Yang said psychology"