Everyone is aware of the importance of exercise, but do you know why exercise is so good and important for you? Exercise benefits many different parts of your body, mind and life.
Do you want to feel better, have more energy and even add years to your life? Just do sports!
The health benefits of regular exercise and physical activity are hard to ignore. Everyone really benefits from exercise, regardless of age, gender or physical condition.
Need more persuasion to get moving and make sports a regular part of your routine?
Here are 7 great ways that exercise and sports can lead to a happier, healthier you.
Exercise ensures weight management
Exercise can help prevent obesity or maintain weight loss. When you exercise, you burn calories. The more intense the activity, the more calories you burn. Simple movement such as a brisk walk already has a positive influence on weight loss.
Regular trips to the gym are great, but don't worry if you can't spend a large chunk of time each day exercising. Any amount of activity is, of course, better than no activity at all.
To reap the benefits of exercise, you need to be more active throughout the day – take the stairs instead of the elevator or do your household chores with a little more zest. Consistency is key, hence our preference for some form of exercise every day – even if it's just 20 minutes!
Exercise improves your mental mood
Need an emotional boost to your mood? Or do you want to blow off some steam after a stressful day? A session at the gym, outdoors or brisk walk can help. Physical activity stimulates various chemicals in the brain that will make you feel happier, more relaxed and less anxious. It can also help you sleep better at night, which is important for maintaining an overall good mood.
In addition, you can also start to feel better about your appearance and yourself if you exercise regularly, which can boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem.
Sport fights diseases and ensures long-term health
Are you concerned about heart disease? Would you like to prevent high blood pressure? Regardless of your current weight, being active raises high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, the “good” cholesterol, and lowers unhealthy triglycerides. This one-two punch keeps your blood flowing smoothly, reducing your risk of cardiovascular disease.
Regular exercise helps prevent or manage many health problems, including:
- Depression
- anxiety
- High bloodpressure
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Stroke
- metabolic syndrome
- Cancer prevention
- Arthritis
It may also help improve cognitive function of the brain and lower the overall risk of death from various causes, especially those involving the heart.
Exercise increases your energy and strength
Are you already overheated by shopping or household chores? Regular exercise can improve your muscle strength and increase your stamina.
Exercise supplies oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and helps your cardiovascular system work more efficiently. And as your heart and lung health improve, you'll have more energy to perform your daily tasks.
One of the reasons to exercise regularly is that it gives you energy. Rather than going for that second cup of coffee, a workout can allow oxygen to flow more freely through the body and give you a much-needed burst of energy to get through the day. It also increases your overall stamina, helping you to stay energized for longer in the beginning.
Sport promotes better sleep
Do you have trouble getting up and keep snoozing? Regular exercise can help you fall asleep faster, sleep better, and help you sleep a lot deeper. Just make sure you don't work out too close for it to sleep go to sleep, otherwise you may have too much energy to go to sleep again.
Sport brings an extra spark back to your sex life
Do you feel too tired or too out of shape to enjoy physical intimacy with your partner? Regular exercise can improve energy levels and boost your confidence in your physical appearance, which can boost your sex life.
But there's something more going on. Regular physical activity can enhance women's arousal. And men who exercise regularly are less likely to develop erectile dysfunction than men who don't exercise. In addition, sporting men benefit from increased testosterone levels.
Sports are great fun… and social!
Sports and physical activity can be fun. They give you the chance to relax, enjoy the outdoors or simply participate in activities that make you happy. Physical activity can also help you keep in touch with family or friends in a fun social setting.
So take a dance class, do a duo training with a Personal Trainer, hit the hiking trails or join a soccer team. Find a physical activity you enjoy and just do it. Bored? Try something new, or do a fun sporting activity with friends or family.
Finally, what sports is all about
Sports and exercise are great ways to feel better, improve your health and have more fun. For most healthy adults, the recommendation is roughly the following:
- At least 150 minutes per week of moderate aerobic or cardiovascular activity or 75 minutes per week of vigorous aerobic activity, or a combination of moderate and vigorous activity. The guidelines suggest that you spread this movement out over the week. Examples are running, walking or swimming. Even small amounts of exercise are beneficial, and the accumulation of activity throughout the day provides significant health benefits.
- Strength training for all major muscle groups at least twice a week. Examples are lifting free weights, using weight machines or doing bodyweight training.
Spread your sporting activities over the week. If you're looking to lose weight, meet specific fitness goals, or reap even more benefits, you'll probably need to ramp up moderate aerobic activity to 300 minutes or more per week along with possibly addressing your diet.
Of course, in case of doubt or medication, you should always consult your doctor first. So remember to consult your doctor before starting any new exercise program, especially if you are concerned about your fitness, have not exercised for a long time, or have chronic health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes or arthritis.
For the rest: sport & enjoy the many benefits!
Sources including AngleToner (link), MayoClinic (link), sweat (link), WebMD (link)
