Benefits Of Exercising

Physical activity simply means movement of the body that uses energy. For health benefits, physical activity should be moderate or vigorous intensity. Regular physical activity can produce long-term health benefits. People of all ages, shapes, sizes, and abilities can benefit from being physically active. It reduces the risk of heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, and other diseases. The more physical activity you do, the greater the benefits.

Have you ever heard the expression ‘’use it or loose it’’? It’s true! If you don’t use your body you will surely loose it. Your muscles will become flabby and weak, your heart and lungs won’t function efficiently, and your joints will be stiff and easily injured. Our bodies were meant to move, they crave exercise. Besides the health benefits exercise can also help you improve your appearance and delay the aging process. As this scientist tells us, it is proved that exercise is the most effective way to all the things we’ve talked about before.

‘’The medical literature tells us that the most effective ways to reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, Alzheimer's, and many more problems are through healthy diet and exercise. Our bodies have evolved to move, yet we now use the energy in oil instead of muscles to do our work.’’ (David Suzuki).

The first of the plenty benefits that exercise has is that it controls weight. It can help you prevent excess weight gain or just help you maintain weight-loss. You don’t need to set aside large chunks of time for exercise to reap weight-loss benefits. For general good health the 2008 Physical Active Guidelines for Americans recommended that adults should get a minimum of 2-1/2 hours per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, yet many people will need more than that to stay at a stable weight. If you are exercising mainly to lose weight, 30 minutes or so a day may work if you’re careful about how much you eat. If you don’t make an effort to trim calories or at least hold them steady, you would likely need to exercise much more, or more vigorously, to lose weight. If you can't do an actual workout, get more active throughout the day in simple ways by taking the stairs instead of the elevator or revving up your household chores. Like it is stated in this quote: ‘’The only bad workout is the one that you didn’t do.’’

While the precise amount of exercise needed to maintain or achieve a healthy weight may vary based on your diet and your genes, the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association conclude, “more activity increases the probability of success.”

Another health benefit about exercise is that it combats health conditions and diseases so if you’re worried about heart disease or hoping to prevent high blood pressure no matter what your current weight is, being active boosts high-density lipoprotein or ‘’good cholesterol’’ and decreases unhealthy triglycerides keeping your blood flowing smoothly decreasing your risk of cardiovascular diseases.

By reducing body fat, can help to prevent and control type 2 diabetes. By increasing muscle strength and endurance and improving flexibility and posture, regular exercise can prevent back pain. Lastly, regular weight-bearing exercise promotes bone formation and may prevent many forms of bone loss associated by aging, like for example Osteoporosis.

Exercise is the miracle cure we’ve always had, but for too long we’ve neglected to take our recommended dose. Our health is now suffering as a consequence. “If exercise were a pill, it would be one of the most cost-effective drugs ever invented,” says Dr Nick Cavill, a health promotion consultant. Evidence is emerging that sedentary behavior, such as sitting or lying down for long periods, is bad for your health. Inactivity is described by the Department of Health as a “silent killer”. Not only should you try to raise your activity levels, but you should also reduce the amount of time you and your family spend sitting down. “Previous generations were active more naturally through work and manual labor, but today we have to find ways of integrating activity into our daily lives,” says Dr Cavill.

If you need and emotional lift or need to blow off some steam after a stressful day, you will be happy to know that exercise improves mood. Physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed. You may also feel better about your appearance and yourself when you exercise regularly, which can boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem.

When you have anxiety or depression, exercise often seems like the last thing you want to do. But once you get motivated, exercise can make a big difference. A workout at the gym or a brisk 30-minute walk can help. Regular exercise probably helps ease depression in a number of ways, which may include: Releasing feel-good brain chemicals that may ease depression (neurotransmitters, endorphins and endocannabinoids), reducing immune system chemicals that can worsen depression, and increasing body temperature, which may have calming effects.

Regular exercise has many psychological and emotional benefits, too. It can help you gain confidence, meeting exercise goals or challenges, even small ones, can boost your self-confidence. Getting in shape can also make you feel better about your appearance. Exercise is a distraction that can get you away from the cycle of negative thoughts that feed anxiety and depression helping you take your mind off problems. Exercise and physical activity may give you the chance to meet or socialize with others. Just exchanging a friendly smile or greeting as you walk around your neighborhood can help your mood. And last, it may help you cope in a healthy way, doing something positive to manage anxiety or depression is a healthy coping strategy because trying to feel better by drinking alcohol, dwelling on how badly you feel, or hoping

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