You probably already know that exercise is good for you. You definitely know that it is important for your health. Yet, if you are like some folks, that doesn’t mean you DO exercise. It just means you are aware that you should. Well, maybe it’s time to act upon that awareness. Think about it. The benefits extend far beyond being eye candy at the beach.
Here are five positive impacts you can expect from long-term exercise.
Exercise keeps your brain active.
Exercise is great for your brain. Quicker learning, better memory, increased blood supply to the brain, and maintaining focus are the big winners for your brain every time you hit the gym or get on an exercise run. There is active research into how exercise changes the function and the structure of the brain, especially in the treatment of diseases that affect that part of the body like Alzheimer’s.
If you are struggling with memory loss or you find yourself going blank at times, physical activity might just help clear up the fog. Exercise facilitates the secretion of a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), that triggers the growth of new neurons and helps repair and protect brain cells from degeneration; it may also help people focus, according to recent research.
Exercise could be seen as medicine to cure depression
Research has proven that many types of activities, walking, cycling, running, and aerobics, make people feel better and can even relieve symptoms of depression, almost like a drug. As you exercise, your brain releases secretions that dull pains, lighten your mood, and relieve stress. Thanks to BDNF, new blood cells, and even brain cells pop up in your body, creating a feel-good experience that brings your senses to life. Your mind starts working at speeds you would never have imagined before. No wonder many people report getting flashes of inspiration on how to deal with issues in their lives while working out. You need to try it!
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Exercise slows the effects of aging.
Research has shown that exercise lengthens a person’s lifespan by approximately five years. As we grow older, our body cells degenerate. Wrinkles are evidence of this, as well as flabby skin. Exercising helps to slow the rate at which this happens. Just look at Deshun Wang, the oldest man to ever walk the fashion runway. At 80 years old, Wang looks like a strapping man in his thirties because of his exercise routine. A moderate to high-intensity workout will do the magic. But not just in old age, exercise can keep you active in your prime as well. Take, for instance, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the soccer maestro who presently plays for Manchester United. At 36 years of age, he is still an industrious goal-scoring asset to his team. Ibrahimovic’s fitness routine has been key to his ability to keep going at an age when most footballers would have retired from the game.
You don’t have to go overboard; as long as you are consistent the benefits will be revealed.
Exercise can help you recover from a major illness.
For decades, people with certain diseases were advised not to exercise. But that is changing; new thinking says very vigorous exercise can, in fact, be appropriate for people with different chronic conditions, be it arthritis, stroke, cancer, Type 2 diabetes or even heart failure. Amazing!
A recent analysis of clinical trials on stroke victims found that exercise was even more effective at helping them rehabilitate than any other form of medication. When done on a regular basis, dramatic improvements were evident in their health and the management of their chronic condition, as well as increased energy levels, and sharp drops in their mood swings.
Exercise burns body fat and strengthens your cardiovascular system
Your heart becomes stronger as your cardiovascular system gets better at delivering oxygen to burn more fat as an energy source. Meaning more energy is available to do whatever you want. Inflammation of muscles and joint pains go out the window too. So get on with more aerobic exercises as they stretch your lungs and pump more oxygen into your bloodstream.
Aerobic exercises rev up blood flow to the skin, delivering oxygen and nutrients that improve skin health and even help wounds heal faster.
With a healthy dose of workouts, you can do amazing things to your body, so take advantage of exercise and reap untold benefits starting now. You don’t want to wait another week, do you?
