Exercise and Nutrition for Physical Performance, Mental Health and General Well-Being

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Delving into the exciting connection between exercise, nutrition, and brainpower, this research explores how what we eat and how we move can supercharge our cognitive function and general well-being for peak physical performance. We are taking a close look at how specific diets, supplements, and workout routines can enhance thinking skills, slow down age-related mental decline, and contribute to overall better mental and physical states. The quest is to uncover the optimal nutrition and fitness strategies for both mental sharpness and athletic prowess. This involves examining the impact of various types of exercise, from heart-pumping cardio to muscle-building strength training, on brain function and mood. Simultaneously, we are investigating how certain nutrients and supplements can fuel the brain for top performance. A major focus is harnessing the power of exercise to safeguard long-term brain and physical health, with the goal of preventing age-related cognitive as well as physical decline and mood disorders. This includes a deep dive into the gut–brain connection and how the food we eat influences our mental state through the bacteria in our gut. Experts from diverse fields, such as sports science, nutrition, psychology, and neuroscience, are joining forces to develop innovative ways to optimize cognitive, mental, and physical well-being for both athletes and the everyday person. Beyond the field, it empowers individuals to make informed lifestyle choices that promote global wellness. In essence, this topic embraces a comprehensive view of health, emphasizing how exercise and nutrition can work hand-in-hand to boost brain function and physical well-being. The ultimate aim is to create practical, personalized strategies that empower everyone to achieve better physical and mental health through smart lifestyle choices.

Dr. Gian Mario Migliaccio
Dr. Luca Russo
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Applied Sciences applsci	2.5	5.3	2011	18.4 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
Brain Sciences brainsci	2.7	4.8	2011	15.6 Days	CHF 2200	Submit
Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology jfmk	2.6	4.2	2016	19.7 Days	CHF 1600	Submit
Nutrients nutrients	4.8	9.2	2009	13.5 Days	CHF 2900	Submit
Sports sports	2.2	4.1	2013	19.1 Days	CHF 1800	Submit

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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22 pages, 1468 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Vigorous Exercise Enhances Verbal Fluency Performance in Healthy Young Adults

by Maya M. Khanna, Corey L. Guenther, Joan M. Eckerson, Dion Talamante, Mary Elizabeth Yeh, Megan Forby, Krystal Hopkins, Emmali Munger, Grace Rauh, Shringala Chelluri, Courtney Schmidt, Isabel Walocha and Matthew Sacco

Brain Sci. 2025, 15(1), 96; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15010096 - 20 Jan 2025

Viewed by 1133

Abstract

Background/Objectives: We examined the effects of cardiovascular exercise on verbal fluency using a between-groups design. Methods: Within our experimental (i.e., exercise) group, participants performed phonemic and semantic verbal fluency tasks (VFTs) before, during, and after a vigorous 30 min bout of cycling. Participants [...] Read more.

Background/Objectives: We examined the effects of cardiovascular exercise on verbal fluency using a between-groups design. Methods: Within our experimental (i.e., exercise) group, participants performed phonemic and semantic verbal fluency tasks (VFTs) before, during, and after a vigorous 30 min bout of cycling. Participants within our control group also completed these VFTs before, during, and after a non-physical activity. We compared the VFT performance of the experimental (exercise) and control (no-exercise) groups of participants in terms of the characteristics of the words that they produced within the VFTs. In addition, we examined these aspects of VFT performance for each participant group across time within the experiment session. Conclusions: From these comparisons, we see that exercise influenced VFT performance. Most notably, participants engaged in exercise changed their VFT performance over time, while control group participants did not. Exercising participants produced more words over the course of their exercise session that contained fewer letters over time and were lower in frequency during and after exercise as compared to before exercise. Additionally, topic switches in the VFTs increased after exercise as compared to before exercise. Participants in the control group did not change their VFT performance over time according to any of these measures. These findings indicate that exercise impacted participants’ lexical access and that these VFT performance changes were not due to practice effects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Exercise and Nutrition for Physical Performance, Mental Health and General Well-Being)

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13 pages, 251 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

The Fitness, Rest, and Exercise for Strength and Health (FRESH) Study: A Three-Year Comparison of College Students’ Perceived and Measured Health Metrics

by Julia Blouin, Adelaide Feek, Yichen Jin, Jennifer Cook, Timothy O’Neal and Jennifer M. Sacheck

Nutrients 2025, 17(2), 217; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17020217 - 8 Jan 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1797

Abstract

The undergraduate college years are a critical transition period for young adults in establishing life-long health behaviors. Background/Objective: Within the FRESH Study, we aimed to understand the relationship between perceived physical health, perceived mental health, and specific health metrics (e.g., physical activity, [...] Read more.

The undergraduate college years are a critical transition period for young adults in establishing life-long health behaviors. Background/Objective: Within the FRESH Study, we aimed to understand the relationship between perceived physical health, perceived mental health, and specific health metrics (e.g., physical activity, food insecurity, sleep quality) among college students following the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: First-year undergraduate students (n = 271) from an urban university were recruited in three study waves (2021–2022, 2022–2023, and 2023–2024). Participants answered online surveys on demographics, health perceptions, physical activity, dietary patterns, beverage consumption, food insecurity, stress, and sleep quality. Results: Overall, participants rated their physical health better than their mental health (‘good’, ‘very good’, or ‘excellent’; 89.6% vs. 62.2%), even though 30.7% were not of ‘healthy weight’ status, 34.5% did not meet physical activity recommendations, and 42.2% of students consumed some sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). Students reporting suboptimal (‘fair’ or ‘poor’) physical and mental health were more likely to report food insecurity (p < 0.001, p = 0.010), poor sleep quality (p = 0.012, p < 0.001), and elevated stress (p = 0.001, p < 0.001). In addition, fast-food consumption (p < 0.001), breakfast consumption (p = 0.031), and food insecurity (p = 0.004) showed changes over three years. Conclusions: These findings call for targeted wellness initiatives addressing nutrition, food insecurity, stress management, sleep improvement, and physical activity among students and in university health programs. The FRESH Study emphasizes the need for continued longitudinal research to track health behaviors and inform future interventions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Exercise and Nutrition for Physical Performance, Mental Health and General Well-Being)

12 pages, 1156 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Determining the Levels of Cortisol, Testosterone, Lactic Acid and Anaerobic Performance in Athletes Using Various Forms of Coffee

by Melda Gür, Vedat Çınar, Taner Akbulut, Kenan Bozbay, Polat Yücedal, Mehdi Aslan, Gökçe Avcu, Johnny Padulo, Luca Russo, Joanna Rog and Gian Mario Migliaccio

Nutrients 2024, 16(19), 3228; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16193228 - 24 Sep 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 8131

Abstract

Background: Coffee is considered one of the most preferred and consumed beverage types in the world, and caffeine is known to increase physical performance due to its ergogenic properties. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of coffee consumption in [...] Read more.

Background: Coffee is considered one of the most preferred and consumed beverage types in the world, and caffeine is known to increase physical performance due to its ergogenic properties. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of coffee consumption in different forms on cortisol, testosterone, lactic acid and anaerobic performance levels. Methods: A total of 15 licensed male football players participated in the research voluntarily. The research was implemented in a single-blind, counterbalanced, randomized and crossover study design. Participants were given caffeinated coffee (CK), decaffeinated coffee (placebo) (DK), powdered caffeine (in a gelatin capsule) (PC) and powdered placebo (maltodextrin in a capsule) (PM) on different days, and the Wingate test protocol was performed after the warm-up protocol. Blood samples were collected post-test. Cortisol, testosterone and lactic acid levels in the serum samples taken were determined by the ELISA method. Results: As a result, it was revealed that caffeinated coffee given to participants who exercise increased anaerobic power. However, it was observed that lactic acid levels were higher in placebo and decaffeinated coffee. The highest level of cortisol was found in caffeinated coffee and powdered caffeine compared to the placebo. Testosterone values were observed to be highest in caffeinated coffee and decaffeinated coffee compared to a placebo. Conclusions: The study suggests that the type of caffeine is a factor that affects absorption rate, which impacts performance and hormone levels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Exercise and Nutrition for Physical Performance, Mental Health and General Well-Being)

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