People mostly exercise to lose some weight and get thinner and to maybe pull off that summer body this time. But this is how exercise is generalized: you do it only to lose weight. But that’s not the only thing it does, in simple terms, exercise improves muscle and bone strength and boosts the energy level.
Also, it keeps you away from many chronic diseases like cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. But the most surprising effect exercise has is improving your cognitive abilities and mental health. Still don’t want to get your running shoes on? Here are some ways that exercise can help in improving physical and mental health:
Exercise and Physical Health
You’ve heard it a million times: healthy body, healthy mind. Now even with the generalization, the most essential thing you achieve with exercise is weight control. This is because regular exercise increases the metabolic rate and burns more calories. Physical activity helps you in controlling the blood cholesterol level and blood pressure. Controlling the weight keeps you from obesity, which is the reason for many diseases like type 2 diabetes, stroke, and other heart diseases.
Regular exercise stimulates the release of growth factors and improves bone density. Physical activity provides your tissues with oxygen and nutrients, in this way enriching the heart and lungs to ultimately increase your energy level. With better energy levels, you work better, sleep better and at the end of the day, don’t get you tired after a few simple chores.
Exercise and Memory
Did you know exercise can help in improving your memory? It’s true! Research shows that the parts of the brain controlling memory and thinking have a better capacity in people who exercise. This is because of the growth factors that the exercise helps stimulate because they improve the growth and health of your brain cells. Exercise also lowers the risk for dementia and age-related decline in brain function.
Exercise, Depression and Stress
Exercise as simple as running can help induce similar effects as antidepressants. This happens because exercise helps in dropping the stress hormone. This effect particularly due to running is called ‘runner’s high’. It is that feeling of exhilaration and clarity that you get after a good run or another exercise. So, exercise helps in reducing stress. Who knew antidepressants could be so cheap? Not only this, with the stimulated ‘natural antidepressants’, but your mood is also lifted automatically. These antidepressants are arguable without any side-effect, of course. You simply feel happier and lighter.
Exercise and Concentration
Exercise helps in focusing on a task better and be efficient at any work. Do you feel like you can’t multitask, or can’t focus on a task? Try exercising! Daily exercise improves brain function and helps you ignore the distraction and manage multiple tasks at once. It will also enable you to process complicated information better.
Exercise and Sleep
When you exercise, you are more active and have more energy in the day. This can help you get more restful and deep sleep. This happens as the body undergoes a restorative phase during the sleep. Exercise is known as a natural therapy for insomniac people. It is still important to not exercise right before you go to sleep, as it affects the sleep cycle negatively. Exercising in the morning or afternoon is better for improving the sleeping patterns.
Exercise and Self -Esteem
Regular exercise gives you all the benefits of better physical health as well as mental health. With time, you feel better about yourself, your appearance and your life in general and you develop a higher sense of self-worth.
So, fight the laziness, grab those running shoes, and make a run for it, literally!
