We all have heard of the saying “health is wealth”, which is very true. Exercise is one of the best activities that we can do to be mentally and physically healthy. People often invest in their health just to feel good, look good, and live a happy and healthy lifestyle. Some people spend their time and money in gyms and good foods just to be as fit and healthy as possible. But, you do not have to spend money just to exercise. You can exercise at the comfort of your own home, or you can do it outdoors and make use of the environment. Exercise has lots of great health benefits. So, what are those great benefits?
Here are the 7 great benefits of exercise that you must know…
1. Exercise Improves Mood and Mental Wellbeing
Have you noticed when you exercise, you feel good afterwards, you feel physically and mentally relieved? That’s because of the mind and body connection. When your body undergoes stress or pressure, your mind also does. When your body feels comfort, your mind also does. Exercise is also a natural remedy for anxiety and depression. So, when you feel emotionally drained, just hit the gym, play basketball, play soccer, go for a swim, do martial arts, or simply exercise at the comfort of your home. Trust me, you feel feel mentally relieved. There are lots of ways to be physically active.
2. Exercise Maintains Your Blood Pressure and Improves Heart Health
Becoming physically active regularly will help maintain your blood pressure. When you exercise regularly, you’re training your heart to become stronger, strong enough to handle pressure. The pressure on your arteries will also decrease. Therefore, blood pressure is maintained at a normal level. When you have a constantly normal blood pressure, you will have lower chance of developing heart conditions like myocardial infarction (heart attack), which is dangerous.
3. Strengthens Immune System, Lowers Risk of Developing Certain Cancers and Diabetes
Exercising will boost your immune system because your body temperature rises which will increase the chance of strengthening antibodies that will fight off infection. It will make your immune cells to function well. Exercise increases the blood flow which allow oxygen to get to different parts of the body, blood will also flow to the brain which will increase the brain’s function. It will also reduce the production of stress hormones which is bad for our body.
The more stronger your immune system is, the more lower the risk of developing diseases. Exercising will help lessen the risk of developing cancers and diabetes.
4. Strong Bones, More Muscle, Less Fat
The more you use your body physically, the more stronger your bones become, the more muscles you develop, and the more fats you lose. When you exercise, you make use of your bones and muscles. For example, When you do push-ups, you use majority of your deltoids (shoulder muscles), triceps, back muscles, and chest muscles. So, after many repetitions, your muscles become exhausted and muscle fibers become damaged. So, your body will secrete hormones and growth factors responsible for repairing the damaged muscles by increasing the mass and making it more stronger and more fit to undergo stress. Your body will also burn calories when you exercise, therefore you lose fat.
5. Better Sleep
Exercising early in the day can contribute in increasing the chance of better sleep. It will also increase the duration of your sleep. It’s because after exercising in the day, you will feel energized for several hours throughout the day, which will make you tired and sleepy at night because you used your energy for the exercise.
After an exercise, your body temperature goes up for about 4 hours. That is the reason why after a workout, you feel active and energized, because of the elevated body temperature. So, if you want to have a better sleep, do not exercise 3 to 4 hours before you sleep because elevated body temperature will keep you active and awake. So, exercising in the day is better than exercising at night if you want a better sleep.
6. Boosts Self-Confidence
When you exercise, you feel a form of accomplishment, you feel that you finished an important task that is productive. Exercising will not only make you look healthy and feel healthy. It will also make your body look extra attractive, therefore making you feel confident about yourself. It will make you feel good about your overall physique. Having a good physique will also increase your style when it comes to fashion, clothes will look good on you, t-shirts and jeans will fit nicely by exposing your fit appearance. Exercising regularly will reduce stress hormones that may make you look and feel stressed out.
7. Longer Lifespan
Proper exercise with proper diet will make you live longer. You will maintain healthy muscles, bones, and joints that will lead to a healthier and balanced lifestyle. It will help you with your balance and prevents you from falls that will damage your bones. It will result to a lower chance of developing health conditions like high blood pressure, heart attack, diabetes, arthritis and certain conditions. Exercise will manage your stress as you grow older. Exercise will not only make you physically fit. You will also help you maintain good mental health because it will keep you from anxiety and depression.
If your physical and mental health matters to you, then be a disciplined to be as fit and healthy as possible. Just think of the 7 great benefits that exercise will give you.
Author: Shy A.