Photography iStock
When you’re struggling with stress, working long hours and short of time and energy, going for a run can be the furthest thing from your mind. But summoning up the strength to lace up your trainers and pound the pavement should be a priority because running can help your brain deal with stress, as well as protect your memory. Research published in the journal Neurobiology Of Learning And Memory found that running mitigates the negative impact of chronic stress on your hippocampus, which is the part of the brain responsible for learning and memory. While stressed subjects who did not exercise saw their synapses weaken, those who faced stressful situations while exercising had no weakening of these brain-connecting neurons.