Exercise Is Medicine For The Brain, Too

Exercise - long known to promote heart and bone health, among other benefits - increases the growth of brain cells and improves brain function, according to research reviewed today at the American College of Sports Medicine's 15th-annual Health & Fitness Summit & Exposition.

Terry Eckmann, Ph.D., briefed attendees on recent findings, saying the protein known as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is "like Miracle-Gro for the brain." BDNF, Eckmann explained, helps to grow new neurons in the hippocampus and helps the transmission of information across the synapses of neurons.

Fueling these enhanced brain processes, quite literally, are elevated levels of oxygen and glucose which the cardiovascular system - strengthened by exercise - can deliver to the brain. The brain uses about 20 percent of the body's oxygen and glucose.

Scientists have also found that repetitive gross motor movement strengthens the branching of dendrites, which conduct electrochemical stimulation among neurons. "Dendrites receive messages from surrounding brain neurons, and the more dendrites, the more information can be transmitted and stored," said Eckmann.

Recent studies show that students with higher fitness levels score higher on academic tests and show an improved ability to focus. Scientists have also documented the ability of exercise to help prevent dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

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Top 5 Simple Ways to Reduce Tension in Your Life

Almost everybody suffers from stress especially in this busy society. Everything seems to change so fast. We must be able to cope with the changes to minimize stress. Not everyone deal with stress the same way. How we deal with stress depends upon each and every one of us. Some people may choose supplements while others may try a more natural route like yoga exercise.

There are several simple steps you can take to help you to treat your tension

1) Identify the real cause of stress.

If we know the root cause of the stress then it is easy to get help or find any solution. Always be open to other people's suggestions.

2) Face all situations with Courage

Never ignore any problems. Accept that problem is a part of our life and learn to overcome it with confidence.

3) Always Be positive minded

Happy people are positive minded and have no time for thinking any pessimistic thoughts.

4) Control Your Anger

Anger is a very negative emotion. Learn to cope with it by practicing some self control. When the feeling of anger begins to consume you, you must stop what you are doing immediately and take a deep breath and take stock of the situation.

5) Do Yoga Exercise

Yoga is a way of life for the ancients of India. It was not just a way to keep fit. By following breathing exercise, it can help to reduce tension.

You could start with a simple bending exercise. Just place your feet apart and raise your hands above your head. Inhale, touch your feet, exhale and come back to previous position. Repeat this exercise for 6 times.

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Exercise Combo Best for Type 2 Diabetes

Variety in your exercises routine may be key to optimal diabetes management, new research suggests.

The study found that when people with type 2 diabetes did aerobic workout some days and resistance training on others, they had lower blood sugar levels after nine months than people who did either type of exercise alone.

"From a health perspective, the combination exercise program actually outshined the others," said the study's lead author, Dr. Timothy Church, director of preventive medicine research at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center at Louisiana State University System in Baton Rouge.

"We really thought that the walking group and the combination group would be similar, but the combination group was the only group that had significant development. They reduced their HbA1C levels, while also reducing the amount of diabetes medications," said Church.

The HbA1C test examines long-term (two to three months) blood sugar concentration. Unlike a fasting blood glucose test, the HbA1C indicates how well you've controlled your blood sugar over the past 8 to 12 weeks.