02/19/2019 / By Ellaine Castillo
A common concern that a lot of people have after an intense workout is whether they will be able to move for the next few days. If you belong to this group and think that taking a short break from your routine could destroy everything you worked hard for – don’t be. A study from the University of Texas (UT) Southwestern Medical Center showed that the effects of a single workout on your metabolism can last for more than just a day. This is possible due to changes in the brain’s activity that were induced by exercise.
The study, which was published in the journal Molecular Metabolism, provided new insights into the role of the brain in fitness and metabolism. To arrive at this finding, the researchers measured the effects of short- and long-term exercise on two types of neurons in mice. The first of these is the pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neuron, which reduces appetite, lowers blood sugar levels, and increases energy burning when activated. The second type is the neuropeptide Y and agouti-related protein (NPY/AgRP) neuron. Unlike the former, NPY/AgRP neurons are known to increase appetite and reduce metabolism. Both types of neurons are also present in humans.
After a single workout, the researchers found that POMC neurons in mice became activated while their NPY/AgRP neurons were inhibited. These effects lasted for up to two days. However, the team also noted that more training caused these changes to last longer. Between the two types of neurons, POMC exhibited longer-term changes. Because of this, the researchers became interested in the potential implications of their findings on improving glucose metabolism in patients with diabetes, which they will be exploring in future studies.
“It doesn’t take much exercise to alter the activity of these neurons,” said Dr. Kevin Williams, a neuroscientist at UT Southwestern and one of the study’s authors. “Based on our results, we would predict that getting out and exercising even once in a semi-intense manner can reap benefits that can last for days, in particular with respect to glucose metabolism.”
You can also boost your metabolism by following these tips:
Read more news articles on how to stay fit by visiting Slender.news.
Sources include:
Tagged Under:
fitness, metabolism, metabolism-boosting effects, neurology, neurons, research, slender
This article may contain statements that reflect the opinion of the author
COPYRIGHT © 2017 SCIENTIFIC NEWS