Fitness

Use Exercise to Improve Your Memory

Intensive exercise for as short as 15 minutes improves memory.

Photo by Daniel Öberg on Unsplash

You already know that physical activity is right for your body. But did you know that it is also good for your brain? Now we have a recent study from the University of Geneva (Switzerland) that shows:

An intensive physical exercise session as limited as 15 minutes in duration improves memory, including acquiring new motor skills.

I just completed a workout on my treadmill. More specifically, an on-screen instructor motivated me through a short (but challenging) high-intensity interval training (HIIT) session. I am not going to lie. I struggled. Now, let me share a bit of the upside, health benefits aside.

Exercise-induced euphoria and endocannabinoids

Following the completion of the 20-minute workout, I felt a sense of satisfaction and psychological well-being. We know that the latter is secondary to endocannabinoids, small molecules produced by the body during physical exertion.

These small endocannabinoids circulate in my blood before crossing the blood-brain barrier. The molecules bind to specialized cell receptors, triggering a sense of euphoria. You probably already knew about the so-called runners high, but…