Feed your brain with some preacher curls.

We’ve heard it all before. Bodybuilders are just meatheads with nothing on their mind except how much weight they’re gonna lift during their next workout. Frankly, we’re tired of the stereotype. Since when has working out been considered a bad thing? There seems to be the notion that because of someone’s “obsessive” drive to becoming a better version of themselves physically, that they neglect advancing their intelligence. We’re here to say: 1.) how truly dumb that is, and 2.) that pumping up will actually promote increased intelligence. To keep it simple, lifting weights can actually make you smarter…

A study conducted in Brazil shows the correlation between weightlifting and the growth of new neurons in the brain. The study included a number of exercises performed by rats that including running on a wheel both weighted and without. It gets a little technical here: both test groups had increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), but the group who ran on the weighted wheel not only packed on lean mass, but also showed higher levels of both BDNF and brain activity. The harder they worked the higher their brain function.

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Working harder will ensure increased blood flow through the body including the brain. Does that mean because you pump some iron for a few weeks you’ll become a genius? Hell no. What it does mean however is that the increased blood flow will heighten brain activity and functionality. Someone who’s working hard in the gym can translate all that energy they receive from training and transfer that into studying and research. You’ll be able to absorb information far easier than if you were lazing around on your ass all day.

It’s all about a certain type of lifestyle. A word that we throw around a lot here at Generation Iron. Bodybuilding promotes a rigorous and demanding focus to accomplish a task. That kind of focus, that kind of work ethic, becomes muscle memory. It becomes a part of you and translates into everything you do. Not just bodybuilding.

Whether you’re a pro bodybuilder or just a hobbyist who hopes to keep in shape, working out hard will always be a benefit on your brain’s functionality. Don’t cheat yourself and slack off in the gym. So next time you have a test, need to make a business plan, or just need some clarity, get your ass to the gym, lift some weights, and let your mental issues melt away.

Has working out helped your mental game? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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