Six (6) Unique Importance of Physical Exercise
Physical exercise or activity or exercise can improve your health and reduce the risk of developing several diseases like type 2 diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease. Today we are going to be looking at the several unique importance of physical exercise to both our body and mind.
Physical activity and exercise can have immediate and long-term health benefits. Most importantly, regular activity can improve your quality of life. A minimum of 30 minutes a day can allow you to enjoy these benefits.
Things to Remember:
– Aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day.
-See everyday activities as a good opportunity to be active.
-Try to find the time for some regular, vigorous exercise for extra health and fitness benefits.
-Minimize the amount of time spent in prolonged sitting and break up long periods of sitting as often as possible.
The Impact of Physical Activity on Your Health
Regular physical activity can produce long-term health benefits. It can help:
- Prevent chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and stroke (the three leading health-related causes of death)
- Control weight
- Make your muscles stronger
- Reduce fat
- Promote strong bone, muscle, and joint development
- Condition heart and lungs
- Build overall strength and endurance
- Improve sleep
- Decrease potential of becoming depressed
- Increase your energy and self-esteem
- Relieve stress
- Increase your chances of living longer
When you are not physically active, you are more at risk for:
- High blood pressure
- High blood cholesterol
- Stroke
- Type 2 diabetes
- Heart disease
- Cancer
Importance of Physical Exercise
There are so many reasons why regular activity boosts your health. Read to learn what those are and how you can incorporate exercise into your day.
We know that staying active is one of the best ways to keep our bodies healthy. But did you know it can also improve your overall well-being and quality of life?
Here are the basic importance of physical exercise that can help you feel better, look better and live better:
It’s a natural mood lifter
Regular physical activity can relieve stress, anxiety, depression and anger. You know that “feel good sensation” you get after doing something physical? Think of it as a happy pill with no side effects! Most people notice they feel better over time as physical activity becomes a regular part of their lives.
It keeps you physically fit and able
Without regular activity, your body slowly loses its strength, stamina and ability to function properly. It’s like the old saying: you don’t stop moving from growing old, you grow old from stopping moving. Exercise increases muscle strength, which in turn increases your ability to do other physical activities.
It helps keep the doctor away.
Stand up when you eat
your apple a day! Too much sitting and other sedentary activities can
increase your risk of heart disease and stroke. One study showed that
adults who watch more than 4 hours of television a day had an 80%
higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease.
Being
more active can help you:
- lower your blood pressure
- boost your levels of good cholesterol
- improve blood flow (circulation)
- keep your weight under control
- prevent bone loss that can lead to osteoporosis
All of this can add up to fewer medical expenses, interventions and medications later in life!
A healthier state of mind
A number of studies have found that exercise helps depression. There are many views as to how exercise helps people with depression:
- Exercise may block negative thoughts or distract you from daily worries.
- Exercising with others provides an opportunity for increased social contact.
- Increased fitness may lift your mood and improve your sleep patterns.
- Exercise may also change levels of chemicals in your brain, such as serotonin, endorphins and stress hormones.
It can help you live longer
It’s true, 70 is the new 60… but only if you’re healthy. People who are physically active and at a healthy weight live about seven years longer than those who are not active and are obese.
And the important part is that those extra years are generally healthier years! Staying active helps delay or prevent chronic illnesses and diseases associated with aging. So active adults maintain their quality of life and independence longer as they age.
References
https://www.hhs.gov/fitness/be-active/importance-of-physical-activity/index.html
