Benefits
of Reading: Getting Smart, Thin, Healthy, Happy
By Lauren Gelman
A love of reading can protect your brain from
Alzheimer’s disease, slash stress levels, encourage positive thinking, and
fortify friendships. Here's how your brain and body benefit when you crack open
a book.
Reading gives muscle to your memory.
Reading gives your brain a different kind of workout than
watching TV or listening to the radio. Whether you’re absorbed in a page-turner
or simply scanning an instruction manual for your coffee maker, “parts of the
brain that have evolved for other functions—such as vision, language, and
associative learning—connect in a specific neural circuit for reading, which is
very challenging," Ken Pugh, PhD, president and director of research of
Haskins Laboratories, told Oprah magazine.
The habit spurs your brain to think and concentrate.
Reading gives your workout more staying power.
Like the latest single from Lady Gaga or Real Housewives episode,
books are also good company during a workout. A suck-you-in plot may keep you
on an exercise machine longer to finish a captivating chapter, according to Weight Watchers magazine.
Michele Olson, PhD, professor of exercise physiology at Auburn University, told
the magazine that in order to avoid neck or shoulder pain, readers should use
the machine’s book ledge and try not to round their shoulders while working
out.
Reading keeps your brain young.
Digging into a good book can literally take years off your
mind, according to a recent study from Rush University Medical Center as
reported by Prevention.
Adults who spent their downtime doing creative or intellectual activities (like
reading) had a 32 percent slower rate of cognitive decline later in life than
those who did not. “Brainy pursuits make the brain more efficient by changing
its structure to continue functioning properly in spite of age-related
neuropathologies,” Robert S. Wilson, PhD, professor of neuropsychology at Rush
University Medical Center, told the magazine. Another recent study found that
older adults who regularly read or play mentally challenging games like chess
or puzzles are two and a half times less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease,
reported ABC
News.
Reading can melt away stress.
Snuggling up with a good read tamps down levels of
unhealthy stress hormones such as cortisol, Weight Watchers recently reported. In a British study,
participants engaged in an anxiety-provoking activity and then either read for
a few minutes, listened to music, or played video games. The stress levels of
those who read dropped 67 percent, which was a more significant dip than that
of the other groups.
Reading boosts your
vocabulary.
Even if it’s been decades since you had to worry about the
SATs, you can still use books to expand your mental dictionary. In fact,
researchers estimate that we learn five to 15 percent of all the words we know
through reading, according to a Scholastic
report. This is particularly important for children, whose
vocabulary size is directly and dramatically related to the books they read.
Reading improves
empathy.
Stories provide life-changing perspective, say
York University researchers. Getting wrapped up in the lives of characters
strengthens your ability to understand others’ feelings. Seeing the world
through the eyes of Jane Eyre, for example, may make it easier for you to
relate to your sister-in-law’s viewpoint.
Reading can encourage life goals.
Reading about someone who overcame obstacles may
motivate you to meet your own goals, Ohio State University researchers found.
If you’d like a raise, following a character into the boss’s office may give
you the courage to make the same request. The more you identify with a
character and experience the events as if they were happening to you, the more
likely you’ll be to take action.
Reading helps you feel more connected.
When you identify with characters in a book, you experience
a kind of real-life relationship that can enhance your sense of inclusion, say
psychologists at the University of Buffalo. In other words, reading Marley & Me may
increase camaraderie with dog owners in the park.
Reading can brighten your day.
A happy ending can lift your spirits, but novels
may drum up positive feelings in more subtle ways too. Even minor events in the
narrative may unearth warm memories. Does the lead character attend a beach
barbecue? You’ll likely reminisce about a sand-and-surf party you
attended.
Reading can help you save cash.
The average novel costs between $8 (e-book) and $13
(paperback) and takes about six hours to read, reported Weight Watchers. Compare that to going to see a few
movies, spending a day at an amusement park, or eating a few meals out—reading
is a much more cost-effective splurge for your entertainment dollars. And don't
forget your local library.
Comments