On a cellular level, how does exercise make us healthy or improve our health?
In: Biology
This was actually part of my phd thesis. On a cellular level, when your muscle contracts, it produces some molecules that it can export to the blood. These molecules are called myokines.
One example of myokine is irisin. The muscle exports this molecule into the blood stream and when it reaches the brain, it can increase the production of a molecule calles BDNF, which is related to better memory.
Another example is KAT, a molecule that decreases the abundance of kynurenine in the blood. Kyrunenine levels are high during stress and is toxic to the brain, so exercise prevents the brain from being damaged during stressful sitiations.
Other molecules produced by the muscle help reduce inflammation in the whole body and others help you absorb more glucose after you eat, so it helps prevent diabetes.
Edit: thank you for the award
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