Running is arguably one of the easiest ways to benefit from physical exercise because it is both cheap and accessible.
Running improves cardiovascular health, strengthens muscles, and improves bone strength. In addition to these physical benefits, running is associated with improved mental health.
A team of scientists at the University of Tsukuba in Japan recently completed a small-scale study that showed that only 10 minutes of moderate intensity running improves both mood and executive processing.
Brain imaging showed that running increased local blood flow to various parts of the prefrontal cortex after the session compared with not running. The prefrontal cortex plays an important role in controlling mood and executive functions.
The results of the study appear in the journal Scientific Reports.
