{"id":347,"date":"2012-01-31T06:04:26","date_gmt":"2012-01-31T12:04:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/abundantlife.hwacollege.org\/?p=347"},"modified":"2012-01-31T06:35:22","modified_gmt":"2012-01-31T12:35:22","slug":"exercise-makes-kids-smarter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/abundantlife.hwacollege.org\/?p=347","title":{"rendered":"Exercise makes kids smarter"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Cool stuff from the January issue of Archives of Pediatrics and Academic Medicine<\/a>: <\/em>It looks like exercise makes kids\u2014and the rest of us too\u2014smarter.<\/p>\n

Obviously physical activity improves heart health. But apparently it also enhances brain health.<\/p>\n

This peer-reviewed medical journal says, “There is also a growing body of literature suggesting that physical activity has beneficial effects on several mental<\/em> health outcomes, including health-related quality of life and better mood states.<\/p>\n

“In addition … there is a strong belief that regular participation in physical activity is linked to enhancement of brain function and cognition, thereby positively influencing academic performance.”<\/p>\n

Why? Doctors have a few ideas, including the fact that more blood and oxygen flow to the brain, and that the body releases more endorphins that reduce stress and improve mood.<\/p>\n

The report reviewed 14 studies on the subject and found that the more physically active children are, the better they perform academically. At a test program two years ago at Naperville Central High School in Illinois, students participated in a dynamic morning exercise program. Participants’ reading scores nearly doubled. Their math scores improved 20-fold.<\/p>\n

Other findings in the report, as compiled by fitness.mercola.com<\/a>, include:<\/p>\n