Cover photo: Kike Vega on Unsplash
Exercise has been around for thousands of years. Even ancient civilisations were aware of its potential benefits, both physical and mental.
To have a healthy lifestyle and live as much as possible, we must work out at least three times a week. This is the most common piece of advice offered by doctors.
Diet and nutrition play a crucial role, of course, but we’ve got to complement them with a routine to strengthen our body.
It reduces stress, boosts energy levels, improves sleep and makes us look more attractive, resulting in more confidence, and foremost keeping us younger. 😉
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What is Exercise?
Exercise is any form of activity that helps us improve our overall health, both physical and mental. It ranges from just walking around the block for a few minutes to more demanding activities like weightlifting or running.
By exercising regularly, we reduce the risk of chronic conditions including cancer, yes, cancer, heart diseases, diabetes, and obviously obesity.
Let’s explore the top ten amazing benefits of exercise.
Number 1: Weight Loss
Even without a change in our diet, we can be fit and lose a few kilos, given that we work out on a regular basis.
Active training reduces weight and improves physical fitness, and because of that, we will look better and be more confident.
Number 2: Makes Us Stronger
While exercising, our bodies reach a new level, improving our strength. Our metabolism is altered, our bones get more dense, and our muscles are rebuilt. So, if we fall or suffer a strain or fracture, we can recover faster and without too much trouble.
Number 3: Exercise Strengthens the Heart and Lungs
Physical activity, when done regularly, revitalises our heart, making it pump more blood to the lungs and our body. When this happens, our lungs, in order to keep up with the routine, work harder and become stronger.
That means we won’t get tired easily, which is great for some energy-demanding activities.
Number 4: Lowers Cholesterol Levels
Do you have trouble dropping your cholesterol levels? Do you want to avoid taking medicine for that? It sounds like an infomercial.
Well, we’ve got the solution here. Work out more regularly. But, of course, reduce the intake of fat.
Lowering cholesterol in the blood is one of the major benefits of exercise. In this way, we prevent coronary diseases, and, worst of all, strokes.
Number 5: Boosts Memory
A series of studies on children, adults, and the elderly showed that after aerobic exercise, their brains grew because of increased activity in the hippocampus.
This organ is in charge of memory, making it vital to any learning process.
Do you want to learn faster and without too much effort?
Number 6: Exercise Improves Mental Health
Like a teen spirit, we’ll be. Physical movement enhances our mood.
Enthusiasm comes after doing exercise in a way that if we had to do something and didn’t have any idea how to do it, following our physical routine we would know.
It is also a stress reliever. Research conducted in the amygdala, the one responsible for dealing with fear and anxiety, proved that after a series of exercises, it reduced its size and produced fewer neurotransmitters.
Number 7: Improves Concentration
We can be more focused when accomplishing our tasks and ignore distractions while processing information. But more than that, we retain our knowledge longer, resulting in better marks.
Isn’t it great?
Number 8: Prevents Diabetes
With an exercise routine, we reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by 60%. Look.
Resistance and aerobic training prevent a spike in sugar levels in the blood because exercising increases insulin sensitivity. Thus, the body can take up glucose throughout the physical activity and when it’s done.
Number 9: Slows Cognitive Decline
Dementia is sent to the back of the line when we exercise.
As we get older, we are more prone to mental illnesses. So, in order to stop them from developing, exercise is paramount at an early age.
Regular exercise in middle age minimises the probabilities to develop dementia by 88%.
Number 10: Exercise Reduces Chances of Age-Related Chronic Conditions
The point here is to start as soon as possible; I mean now. By doing that, we lower the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular and coronary diseases, and even cancer. There’s a study about it.
All these conditions normally worsen as we get older. Let’s bypass them with a little exercise every day.
It’s not that hard, is it?
Doing anything that helps burn calories, such as walking, cleaning our house – yes, it counts – running, weightlifting, jogging, or swimming, has positive effects on our health. Let’s do it daily to prevent any issues in the future.
How difficult could it be? We don’t have to run for an hour. Simply begin with a few minutes of something enjoyable that fits into our daily routine to acclimatise our bodies. Next, we can gradually increase the time and intensity; baby steps.
By the way. Being hydrated and having a snack before and after exercising are a must.
Let’s start now to experience the positive effects of regular physical activity. We won’t regret it.
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