It’s a fact, exercise like aerobics not only has a positive effect on your body as a whole, but also on your brain in particular. Exercising is a great way to increase your positive outlook on life, by boosting production of the “gang of four” hormones and neurotransmitters in your brain, namely dopamine, serotonin, melatonin and norepinephrine. Between them, these natural chemical substances can make life seem more enjoyable, less stressed and better focused.

However, aerobics also has longer lasting benefits as well. Besides the immediate effects of stimulating the right chemical production in your brain, aerobics also promotes mental health on a long-term basis, when done regularly and under the right conditions. It’s a link that is regularly reinforced by scientific research on the subject, which also shows that diet is an important factor as well. Brainpower and brain fitness can suffer not only from a lack of oxygen-enriched blood that exercise brings, but also from eating too many high-sugar foods. Although the brain needs glucose in order to function at optimal capacity, it is the body’s job to manufacture this to order when you eat the right foods, rather than trying to inject sugar directly into your system.