Want to boost your energy, enhance your mood, and potentially extend your life? Consider making regular exercise a key part of your routine. Here’s a rundown of the top benefits that regular physical activity offers.
Combats Diseases and Health Conditions
Worried about heart disease or high blood pressure? Regular physical activity can help. It increases good cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein) and decreases unhealthy triglycerides, which keeps your blood flowing smoothly and reduces your risk of cardiovascular diseases. Beyond that, staying active can help manage or prevent a whole host of health issues including stroke, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, depression, anxiety, and various types of cancer. Just remember, if you’ve recently been in an accident, check with your doctor before starting any new exercise regimen to ensure it’s safe.
Controls Weight
Exercise can help prevent excess weight gain or help maintain weight loss. When you engage in physical activity, you burn calories—the more intense the activity, the more calories you burn. You don’t necessarily need a gym membership; daily activities like taking the stairs, jogging, or even doing household chores can add up.
Improves Mood
Need an emotional lift or need to blow off some steam after a stressful day? A gym session or brisk walk can help. Physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed.
Boosts Energy
Regular physical activity can improve your muscle strength and boost your endurance. Exercise delivers oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and helps your cardiovascular system work more efficiently. When your heart and lung health improve, you have more energy to tackle daily chores.
Enhances Sleep
Struggling to snooze? Regular physical activity can help you fall asleep faster, get better sleep, and deepen your sleep. Just don’t exercise too close to bedtime, or you might be too energized to hit the hay.
Improves Sexual Health
Feeling too tired or out of shape to enjoy physical intimacy? Regular physical activity can improve energy levels and increase your confidence about your physical appearance, which may boost your sex life. Plus, regular exercise might enhance arousal for women, and men who exercise regularly are less likely to have problems with erectile dysfunction.
Fun and Social
Exercise and physical activity can be enjoyable. They give you a chance to unwind, enjoy the outdoors or simply engage in activities that make you happy. Physical activity can also help you connect with family or friends in a fun social setting.
Conclusion
Making time for regular physical activity is a great way to feel better, increase your health, and have fun. For most people, moderate exercise is safe and beneficial. Regardless of your schedule or fitness level, it’s important to find types of physical activity that you enjoy and can stick with in the long run. So, lace up your sneakers and start exploring the many benefits of a more active lifestyle!
