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BITESIZE | How Exercise Changes Your Brain and Reduces Your Risk of Depression | Dr Anders Hansen #429

Feb 23, 2024 12m 2s 10 insights
We all know that exercise is good for our physical health, but exercise can be just as powerful for our brain and mental health. Feel Better Live More Bitesize is my weekly podcast for your mind, body, and heart. Each week I’ll be featuring inspirational stories and practical tips from some of my former guests.   Today’s clip is from episode 381 of the podcast with psychiatrist, globally renowned speaker and best-selling author Dr Anders Hansen. In this clip he shares how exercise can change our brains and reduce our risk of depression. Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore. For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com. Find out more about my NEW Journal here https://drchatterjee.com/journal Show notes and the full podcast are available at drchatterjee.com/381 Follow me on instagram.com/drchatterjee Follow me on facebook.com/DrChatterjee Follow me on twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk
Actionable Insights

1. Educate Yourself on Brain Function

Learn more about how the brain works and what specific actions do to it, as this understanding is the most powerful catalyst for making positive behavioral changes.

2. Prioritize Exercise for Depression Prevention

If you have a history of depression and wish to avoid recurrence, prioritize exercise, as it may be even more important than continuing antidepressant medication for prevention.

3. Embrace Daily Movement

Recognize that daily movement is not optional but a fundamental aspect of human well-being, as you cannot ‘get away with not moving’ without feeling something is wrong.

4. Integrate Movement into Daily Life

Build exercise into your daily routine by walking or biking to work, taking the stairs, and encouraging children to play during breaks, making movement a habit.

5. Walk Regularly for Brain Health

Engage in walking three times a week for 45 minutes each session to potentially grow your hippocampus by 2% and improve memory, particularly spatial memory.

6. Exercise to Lower Depression Risk

Engage in regular exercise to lower your risk of depression, as studies show physically fit individuals have a lower prevalence of depression even when other health factors are excluded.

7. Walk Before Creative Tasks

Go for a fast walk before tackling a difficult problem or engaging in brainstorming, as creativity and brainstorming ability can increase by around 50% in the hour following the walk.

8. Short Movement Before Learning

Incorporate at least six minutes of movement before classes or learning sessions, as it can improve concentration and reduce distraction, particularly for children.

9. Start Small for Big Impact

If you currently do not exercise, begin with simple activities like walking or biking to school, as these initial steps yield the most significant benefits for cognitive abilities and feelings.

10. Consider Daily AG1 Supplementation

Take AG1 daily to support digestion and enrich the gut microbiome with beneficial bacteria, as it contains five strains tested to increase beneficial bacteria on average up to tenfold.