Exercising can be so important in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, improving your mood and energy level, and preserving your overall health. No matter what kind of physical activity you like best—whether it’s going to the gym, playing sports, or even just walking around your neighborhood—try incorporating it in at least some capacity as often as possible.
The are several benefits of exercise, but the most compelling are the many ways it can help you feel better and live longer.
Why you should exercise
There are many reasons why you should exercise but a few are:
- It makes your body stronger. Exercise helps build muscle, which helps you burn more calories when at rest. It also makes bones stronger and improves circulation.
- It improves your mood. Exercise releases endorphins that make you feel good — even before your run has begun! It also releases other chemicals in the brain that reduce stress and anxiety, so you’ll have fewer bad days at work or home.
- It keeps your heart healthy. The American Heart Association recommends 30 minutes of moderate exercise at least five days a week for heart health; this can include walking, biking, or dancing with friends. Exercise can help prevent high blood pressure and reduce cholesterol levels in the blood. It can also lower the risk of stroke by keeping blood vessels flexible and maintaining their integrity as they age.
Benefits of exercise to your physical health
There are many benefits of physical exercise for your physical health such as:
- Burning calories and losing weight, which reduce the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
- Lowering blood pressure, improving circulation, strengthening bones and muscles, and boosting immunity.
- Preventing common injuries such as sprains, strains, muscle cramps, and arthritis pain.
- Having more energy during the day, which helps improve concentration at work or at school.
Benefits of exercise to your mental health
Exercise can help you manage stress and anxiety by:
- Reducing cortisol levels – Cortisol is a hormone that’s released when we feel stressed out or anxious. Exercise helps reduce the amount of cortisol in your body, which can help you relax and cope with stressful situations more easily.
- Increasing endorphins – Endorphins are chemicals in your brain that make us feel good and happy. Exercise helps to increase endorphins, making us less sensitive to pain (good news if you’re suffering from anxiety) and more relaxed overall.
- Improving self-esteem – People who exercise regularly tend to have higher self-esteem than those who don’t because they feel more confident about themselves and their abilities. This can help you deal with stressful situations that might otherwise make you feel down about yourself or worthless as a person.
One of the most common reasons people give to not exercise is feeling like they don’t have time for it. While it is true that regular exercise takes time and is often difficult to fit into a busy schedule, the benefits far outweigh the downfalls. If you’ve never tried exercising, now may be the right time. It feels great, it’s good for your health, and it will make you feel better in every aspect of life.
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