6 Benefits of Physical Exercise
In this post, I am going to highlight SIX benefits of physical exercise. Whether you are already aware of these benefits or whether it’s the first time you are discovering them, I hope this post acts as an encouragement for you to start or continue with your exercise routine.
1 - Weight loss / weight control
Most of us understand that if we consume more calories than we expend, we will gain weight. On the other hand, if we consume less calories then we expend, we will lose weight. Exercising is a tried and proven way for us to burn more calories and thus a great way to help us lose weight (where necessary) OR maintain our weight (by helping us burn the equivalent amount of calories as we’ve consumed). Of course, our diet is always going to play a huge role when it comes to our weight, as you just can’t out-exercise a terrible diet (and you’re most likely not going to want to either). Nevertheless, when it comes to combating obesity (which is said to affect 1 in 4 adults and 1 in 5 children aged 10-11 in the UK), exercise is a major competitor.
2 – Improves mood and relieves stress
Exercising is great for mental health and decreasing depression (which is the predominant mental health problem throughout the globe). When we exercise, our body releases endorphins (or “happy hormones”) which produce positive feelings and help relieve our perception of pain (or help to increase our pain threshold — whichever way you want to look at it). Exercise is also said to help relieve anxiety and stress. When we exercise, we increase our brain’s sensitivity to serotonin and norepinephrine, neurotransmitters which relieve those feelings of depression and help regulate stress levels.
3 – Strengthens bones and builds muscle
Paired with adequate protein intake, strength training helps to build our muscles, which is particularly important for older people. As people age, they tend to lose muscle which can result in injuries or disabilities if left unaddressed. Exercising also helps to slow the loss of bone density and prevent osteoporosis. Strength training is important for all people, no matter what age, helping to improve our quality of life in general.
4 – Reduces risk of chronic disease
A lack of exercise and a sedentary lifestyle are identified as primary causes of most chronic diseases. As I mentioned in point 1, exercise plays a key role when it comes to weight loss and obesity prevention. One of the primary reasons we want to avoid these is because excess weight (particularly belly fat) increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and an early death. When we exercise, we increase the flow of blood around our body (which includes oxygen) and strengthen our heart. Regular exercise also assists with the stabilization of your blood sugar levels and lowers blood pressure.
5 – Improves brain function and protects memory
An improved circulatory system (which comes with regular exercise) also means a better flow of blood, oxygen and nutrients to your brain, improving your brain health. Exercise stimulates the production of chemicals which enhance brain cell growth and create new brain cells. The hippocampus is the part of our brain vital for memory and learning. This is known to deteriorate as people get older which can lead to diseases such as dementia. Exercise helps prevent the age-related decline of the brain and also helps to reduce inflammation and insulin resistance.
6 – Helps with sleep quality
Our temperature rises when we exercise, which actually helps it to lower again when we sleep. Since we tend to deplete our energy when we workout, the recuperation process is often stimulated when we sleep, helping us catch those juicy ZZZs. Aerobic exercise alone or aerobic exercise paired with resistance training have been found to aid sleep quality and lead to more energy throughout the day.
As you can see, physical exercise is valuable for our mood, brain, heart and general health. No matter what we are called to do in this life, we need our body to do it. Let us be good stewards of our bodies and do what we know we should do now, so we can do what we want and need to when the time comes.
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