Exercise benefits - there are manyExercise benefits you in a number of ways. We all know the virtues of living a healthy lifestyle and that to accomplish that we need to do more exercise. But do you really know how regular exercise benefits your health? Well in this section I will look into how regular exercise can improve conditions like high cholesterol, diabetes, depression and even chronic pain. But what is exercise? Exercise is any physical activity that works your body at a greater intensity than your usual level of daily activity. It raises your heart rate and works your muscles and is most commonly undertaken to achieve the aim of physical fitness. We can all take small steps to increase the amount of exercise we take in over lives, parking further away from the office, taking the stairs instead of the lift, and walking to the shops instead of taking the car all contribute to the amount your body moves on a daily basis. However, to get any substantial exercise benefit you really need undertake structured exercise sessions for at least 30 minutes five days a week. That can be as simple as going for a long walk but try to include exercises in each of the following groups to ensure a balanced programme. • Endurance – activities that increase your breathing and heart rate. These are the exercises that burn the calories and improve your stamina for tasks such as, climbing the stairs and walking. But they can also help with heart and lung health and may delay or prevent diseases such as diabetes, colon cancer, heart disease stroke and others;
• Balance and flexibility – these involve stretching and balance exercises such as standing on one leg. They help keep your body limber by stretching the muscles and tissues that hold your body’s structures in place. By including all three groups of activity you will increase your fitness levels, reduce your weight and develop long lean muscles. This will not only give you a more attractive body helping to improve your body image and confidence but also reducing the likelihood of acquiring diseases such as diabetes and high cholesterol. For a closer look at how exercise benefits your health have a read of the articles below.
Exercise and Depression - In recent years, studies have shown that regular physical activity also has benefits for mental health. Exercise can help people recover from depression and prevent them from becoming depressed in the first place. Dr Alan Cohen, a GP with a special interest in mental health, says that when people get depressed or anxious, they often feel they're not in control of their lives. (www.nhs.uk)
Exercise and cholesterol - Whether you are trying to prevent high cholesterol, or have already been diagnosed with it, exercise can be an important weapon in the fight against high cholesterol and heart disease. According to recent studies, regular exercise has the ability to lower LDL levels (also known as “bad” cholesterol) and raise HDL cholesterol (also known as “good” cholesterol). (www.cholesterol.about.com)
Exercise and diabetes - People with diabetes are encouraged to exercise regularly for better blood sugar control and to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The reason for this is that muscles which are working use more glucose than those that are resting. Muscle movement leads to greater sugar uptake by muscle cells and lower blood sugar levels. Additional benefits of exercise include a healthier heart, better weight control and stress management. (www.diabetes.co.uk)
Exercise and hypertension - Regular physical activity makes your heart stronger. A stronger heart can pump more blood with less effort. If your heart can work less to pump, the force on your arteries decreases, lowering your blood pressure. Regular exercise also helps you maintain a healthy weight, another important way to control blood pressure. (www.mayoclinic.com)
Exercise and Osteoporosis - Starting an exercise program can increase your muscle strength, improve your balance and help you avoid falls — and it may keep your bones from getting weaker. (www.mayoclinic.com)
Exercise and Weight Loss – The most obvious benefit of exercise is weight loss which can help reduce the likelihood of getting a number of the above diseases and more to boot. It can also make you feel better about yourself giving you a better body image and more confidence.
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• Strength – exercises that build your muscles. Strength exercises can also increase your metabolism, helping keep your weight and blood sugar in check and can prevent osteoporosis.