Can Running Really Make You Smarter?
Three important benefits of running beyond physical health
Who doesn't remember hearing that regular physical activities improve memory and learning abilities? Or that you can better manage stress and increase your focus?
It may sound too good to be true, like a typical promo text in a leaflet meant to get us off the couch. But what if I told you that being physically active (and running regularly in particular) can boost your intellectual capacity?
Yes, besides getting strong muscles, powerful lungs, and a mighty heart, you can also help your brain function more effectively without drugs. It's like a free medicine that you can easily start using today.
When I first got into running, I had purely fitness-based reasons. Improving my cognitive performance wasn't on my list at all.
However, as I began training consistently, I started noticing several changes in my mental health from requiring less time to learn something new to thinking more clearly in stressful situations.
At first, I thought it was just a coincidence or a combination of many other lifestyle choices. But now I know that these benefits come from running and they have actual scientific backing.
