This morning I was about to write about some good books to read then I decided I want to hold on to the one for another day. I was thinking, I want to write something that is a little bit more on the side of exercise practice. Actually I wanted to talk the benefits of exercise.
What I want to do today is talk more about the benefits we don't see. It's obvious that when we exercise we improve our health, strength, and appearance. These are things that I feel everyone is looking for when they workouts. Today let's talk about the things people don't say they are looking for our of their workout program.
What are some other side effects to exercise?
It makes you feel happier
This should go without saying, when was the last time you said "I regret that workout"? I imagine the answer was never. I am positive that all of us have done a workout and felt much better after.
Exercise has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety. Studies show that exercise improves the brains sensitivity to the hormones serotonin and norepinephrine, which relieve stress. On top of that exercise can increase production of endorphins. These are known to help with positive feels and reduce perception of pain.
It can reduce risk of chronic disease
I feel like a lot of people know and understand this one. I do want to dive into it a little bit simply because it is something most of don't think about when we exercise.
A lack of exercise is one of the top causes of chronic disease. Exercising regularly has been shown to increase insulin sensitivity and decrease blood pressure.
A lack of exercise, even short term, has been shown to increase risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and early death.
It can help with brain health and memory
This is one that I find the most interesting. I have read that people like Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison would go for 30 minute walks when they noticed they became unproductive. This is something that I do daily and I feel it helps.
Exercise can improve brain function and improve you memory. This is because when we exercise we get our blood flowing and this promotes more oxygen to the brain.
It has also been shown to increase the production of hormones that can enhance the growth of brain cells.
Exercise has also been shown to reduce changes in the brain that can cause Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia.
It can promote a better sex life
I am sure this is everyone's favorite benefit.
Exercise has been proven to increase sex drive. Physical activity can also improve sexual performance, pleasure, and increase the frequency of sexual activity.
Studies have shown that 60 minutes of walking everyday have reduces erectile function in men. Women in their 40's have experienced more orgasms when they include strenuous exercise.
Keep in mind we don't need to workout for hours on end to get great benefits. We really only need about 20-30 minutes a day or about 150 minutes a week. Exercising 30 minutes a day could as simple as doing multiple small or micro workouts through the day.
There are many benefits to regular exercise. There are more than just looking good and getting stronger. With exercise we can improve our mood, fight off disease, increase brain function, and have a better sex life. There are way more benefits to exercise then what have been listed today. This shows that we know regular exercise is extremely important for healthy and long life.
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