Exercising regularly is good for your health. It can even help one live longer. Unfortunately, not everyone takes advantage of these health benefits. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, no more than 5% of adults participate in 30 minutes of physical activity each day!
Too bad most people miss the health benefits you can get from regular exercise.
Here are the 10 Health Benefits of Regular Exercise:
1. It brightens your mood.
Exercise increases brain sensitivity for the “happy” hormones serotonin and norepinephrine. It can even increase production of endorphins which helps us feel positive. It was also found that no matter how intense the workout, it still helps brighten one’s mood! So if you want improve your mood, regularly exercise.
2. It improves your heart health.
Regular exercise helps lower blood pressure preventing plaque buildup in your arteries and also helps in the reduction of triglyceride levels. It can also increase the level of “good cholesterol” in the blood so if you want a healthy heart, exercise regularly.
3. It helps keep you in a healthy weight range.
While good nutrition is important, regular physical activity also helps. According to Livestrong, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC suggests about 150 minutes of moderately intense exercises every week. It increases metabolism and exercising regularly helps burn more calories per day.
4. It prevents chronic health diseases.
Aside from making your heart healthy, regular exercise also helps reduce the risk of Type 2 Diabetes and metabolic syndrome, a chronic disease involving high cholesterol, high blood pressure and increased glucose levels in the blood. It was also found to help reduce the risk for certain cancers like breast cancer, colon , lung and endometrial cancers. So, if you’d like to avoid these diseases, get into the habit of regular exercise.
You may also read: 8 Surprising Health Benefits of Sleeping on Your Left Side
5. It can boost your energy levels.
Do you always feel tired? It’s the best time to start a habit of regular exercise. One study found that regular exercise reduced feelings of tiredness for people with chronic fatigue. In addition, it was also found that regular exercise increases energy levels even for people with chronic fatigue syndrome.
6. It improves your skin health.
Do you want to have a healthier skin without having to put on creams? Exercise regularly. Moderate regular exercise has been found to promote blood flow and antioxidant protection which helps protect your skin and make your skin look younger.
7. It improves brain health.
Exercise regularly for a healthier brain. Exercise increases your heart rate promoting the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain. This helps improve one’s memory and brain health. Moreover, a study even suggests that exercise helps decrease changes in the brain which can cause Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia.
8. It helps improve your sleep quality.
Can’t sleep? Exercise! During exercise, our energy gets depleted which stimulates our body to restore them during sleep. A study even showed that regular exercise activity even helps improve quality by up to 65%! Can’t sleep? Make exercise a regular habit.
9. It can reduce feelings of pain.
Chronic pain can be a big problem for many adults. For many years, it was rest and inactivity that was recommended for people with chronic pain. However, recent studies have revealed that exercise actually helps reduce feelings of pain and raise one’s pain tolerance. Have you been feeling pain? Try exercising.
10. It improves one’s sexual health.
Exercise has many benefits to one’s sexual health. It has been proven to boost sex drive, improve sexual pleasure and even sexual performance, according to several studies. Regular exercise can even reduce the risk of erectile dysfunction in men. Want to be more satisfied in bed? Make exercise a routine.
Sources: NHS, Authority Nutrition