Heart Health Begins in Your BRAIN
There are plenty of reasons to add exercise to your regular routine.
It naturally…
- boosts energy levels,
- improves sleep,
- aids with weight loss,
- strengthens bones,
- reduces blood pressure,
- improves brain health,
- reduces stress, and much more.
Now, researchers have identified a unique way exercise can reduce heart-related risks—and it begins in your brain.
In a recent study, researchers compared individuals’ physical activity to imaging of their brains.
They found that folks who exercised MORE had LESS stress-related signals in the brain.
And this stress reduction is linked to reduced heart risks.
Interestingly, people who were suffering from depression experienced a more than two-fold increase in exercise benefits compared to those who weren’t depressed.
The heart health benefits peaked at 300 minutes of exercise per week. But for those suffering from depression, the MORE they exercised, the greater their benefits.
Stress signals in your brain impact your entire body—including your heart.
They can increase…
- inflammation,
- blood pressure,
- sympathetic nervous system activity, and
- hardening of the arteries.
As this study showed, exercise can improve all these factors by targeting a root cause… stress.
P.S. Supercharge your exercise routine by doing THIS. (Easy!)
SOURCE:
Zureigat, H, Osborne, M, Abohashem, S. et al. Effect of Stress-Related Neural Pathways on the Cardiovascular Benefit of Physical Activity. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2024 Apr, 83 (16) 1543–1553. doi. org / 10.1016/ j. jacc.2024.02.029
