The Power of Movement: Unraveling the Importance of Exercise
‘Exercise is important’ – you’ve heard it a million times and know it’s true. But do you actually know why?
Beyond the simple explanation that it’s because those in your life have always ‘said so’, there are plenty of measurable and relevant reasons exercise is so valuable. In this article, we’ll review some of the most notable, and why you should keep them in mind next time you struggle to find purpose in your workouts.
Physical Activity Is A Great Way To Help You Sleep Better
Do you have trouble sleeping? Exercise can help. Physical activity can help improve your sleep and reduce insomnia by increasing the levels of serotonin and melatonin in your body. As a result, it’s easier to fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. So while you may have considered your workout a chore at times, it could also be putting you to sleep faster than ever before.
Aerobic Activity Is Great For Your Cholesterol Levels
Exercise helps lower cholesterol levels by increasing good cholesterol in your body – HDL or high-density lipoprotein – while simultaneously lowering bad cholesterol levels – LDL or low-density lipoprotein – in your bloodstream. Aerobic activity is especially good for keeping these levels under control because it increases blood flow throughout the body, reducing plaque buildup in your arteries as well as blood pressure. This leads to better heart health overall, which means reduced risk of heart attack or stroke later on down the road.
Exercise Is A Major Energy Booster
While it may make you feel tired in the short-term, exercise is actually an incredibly effective means of boosting your overall energy levels. How?
When you engage in physical activity, you put your body under temporary stress in order to make its systems stronger. You strengthen your cardiovascular health, increase the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to tissues, bolster your endurance, and just become more physiologically resilient as a whole.
As a result, you’re better able to use energy and can therefore tackle tasks that demand it with less effort.
Physical Health Equates To Mental Health
The connection between physical and mental health is undeniable. Although they’re two separate facets of our being, both are fundamentally linked and have the power to impact the other. And this goes all the way down to a chemical level.
The endorphins and hormones in your brain play a balancing act in regulating how you feel. When they’re off-kilter, it becomes easy to fall victim to affected mood and energy levels, as well as a host of other physical and mental health concerns.
But the good news is that exercise can help restore the balance in this brain chemistry. By promoting the release of endorphins and regulating hormones, physical activity empowers you to experience greater feelings of well-being. It also bolsters your overall cognitive function, most notably in areas of memory, attention span, mood and energy levels.
So why it may seem counterintuitive to put yourself under physical stress in an effort to relieve what you may be feeling emotionally, exercise can do great things in helping to support your mental health.
Exercise Is An Essential Tool In Weight Management
As with many other components of physical health, exercise is a critical component of weight management.
Exercise can help to reduce your overall body mass, which in turn can help you to lose weight. In addition, exercise can help you to maintain your weight loss. It can also boost metabolism and energy levels so that you have more energy to burn calories throughout the day. Exercise can also help you to improve muscle tone and definition, which makes it easier for the body to burn fat and maintain lean mass.
The bottom line is that exercise has a profound impact on overall weight management. The more active you are, the better your chances are for reaching and maintaining a healthy weight.
Physical Activity Can Help You Live Longer
The physical and emotional benefits of exercise are numerous, but perhaps the most important is the impact that it can have on your life expectancy.
Exercising regularly can help you to reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer. It can also help you to maintain a healthy weight, which can reduce your risk of diabetes and other disorders. Regular exercise can also help you to improve your overall emotional health, which in turn may help lower your risk of suicide.
Sold on the benefits? Stop by the gym today to see first hand why and how fitness can be so rewarding.
