Is exercise better for your brain than your body?

Recent research has put doubt into the theory that exercise is the best prescription for weight loss. With this being a popular dogma with many invested parties for so many years I expect this argument to continue to stretch. 

Regardless of the outcome behind that question, one thing is clear: exercise has profound effects on the brain,. 

Regular exercise can not only improve memory an thinking skills but actually change the physical size of the brain, particularly in the hippocampus, our memory centre.

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What coffee does to your brain and body: The good and bad

In the UK, we drink 70 million cups of coffee a day. That is more than the entire population. The question to be answered is ‘Is what we are drinking good for us?’

There is a long version of this and a short version. In short, coffee should be treated more like a drug. One or 2 cups a day is likely to produce more beneficial effects, while too much can lead to short and long term harm
I was recently involved in this piece for The Telegraph and appeared on This Morning to speak about it
For mainstream media I couldn’t go into as much detail as I would like so will dig a little deeper into the evidence here.

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How the brain can repair itself and can become stronger

The brain is built back up by neurogenesis, the formation of new brain cells. The quality of your mind and restoration of brain health rests on its ability to repair its neurons.

There is a growth factor called Brain Derived Neutrophic Factor (BDNF) that supports survival and increase growth in the parts of the brain that are vital for learning, memory and executive function particularly the hippocampus, coretex and forebrain. This field of research is still young and there is still much to be learnt but for now it is clear that neurotrophins are merging as main factors in the equation that may connect lifestyle factors and mental health.

BDNF mediates more pathways for cognitive function than every other molecule. Unlike micronutrients BDNF is controlled by transcription than by consumption like micronutrients.

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Why you should want to be smarter

So many of us are aware of the benefits of exercise (and it's not to lose weight). It is a multi-billion dollar industry. Hundreds of pounds/dollars are spent per person every year. All this to improve the way we want our body to be. It was Socrates who elegantly put it No man has the right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training. It is a shame for a man to grow old without seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable.”
However, all but the very elite 1% stand to gain back financially from this

Now compare this to how little we pay attention to improving our mental performance. But why should we?

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