Regular physical activity is a cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle and is essential for maintaining both physical and mental health. Exercise boosts mood, improves energy levels, and reduces the risk of chronic diseases. In this post, we explore various forms of exercise, from moderate activities like walking to more intense workouts like strength training. We also discuss how to create a balanced exercise routine that fits your individual lifestyle and preferences. Learn how to make exercise an enjoyable part of your day and unlock its myriad benefits for your health and well-being. And don't forget to stretch after exercise for relief of the tensed muscles.
1. Exercise can make you feel happier
Exercise has been shown to improve your mood and decrease feelings of depression, anxiety, and stress.
The authors of a 2019 review found that 10–30 minutesTrusted Source of exercise is enough to improve your mood.
Inactivity may play a major factorTrusted Source in weight gain and obesity, which may lead to health complications. Exercise can help you manage your weight by helping with energy expenditure, also known as spending.
Your body spends energy in three ways:
digesting food
- exercising
- maintaining body functions,
- like your heartbeat and breathing
Exercise plays a vital role in building and maintaining strong muscles and bones.
As people age, they tend to lose muscle mass, strength, and function. This leads to an increased risk of injury. Practicing regular physical activity is essential to reducing muscle loss and maintaining strength as you age.
Exercise can help boost your energy levelsTrusted Source while helping to reduce fatigue. This may help as a treatment methodTrusted Source if you have certain health conditions, such as cancer.
Aerobic exercise boosts your cardiovascular system and improves lung health, which may help with energy levels.
Regular physical activity is a key factorTrusted Source in reducing your risk of chronic diseases, such as:
- type 2 diabetes
- heart diseaseTrusted Source
- cancerTrusted Source, such as breast, colorectal, lung, and liver cancer, among other types
- high LDL cholesterolTrusted Source
- hypertension
Your skin can be affected by the amount of oxidative stress in your body.
Oxidative stress occurs when your body’s antioxidant defenses cannot completely repair the cell damage caused by compounds known as free radicals. This can damage the structure of the cells and negatively impact your skin.
Exercise can improve brain function and protect your memory and thinking skills.
To begin with, exercise increases your heart rate. This promotes the flow of blood and oxygen to your brain. It can also stimulate the production of hormones that enhance the growth of brain cells.
Regular exercise can help youTrusted Source relax and sleep better.
It may help improve your sleep quality because the energy loss that occurs during exercise stimulates restorative processesTrusted Source during sleep.
Also, the increase in your body temperature during exercise may help it dropTrusted Source during sleep, which could promote better sleep.
Chronic pain can be debilitating. For many years, the recommendation for treating chronic pain was rest and inactivity.
One way that exercise may help prevent or reduce chronic pain is because it increases your pain toleranceTrusted Source over time.
Exercise may also help you control painTrusted Source associated with various health conditions, including:
- chronic low back pain
- fibromyalgia
- chronic soft tissue shoulder disorder
Regular exercise may help improve your sex lifeTrusted Source.
For example, engaging in regular exercise can strengthen your heart, improve blood circulation, tone muscles, and enhance flexibility, all of which may help improve your sex lifeTrusted Source.
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