Health benefits of regular physical activity
By Imelda Duduzile Moyo
There are a number of health benefits that come with regular exercise and physical activity. The benefits of exercise are regardless of your age, sex or physical ability. It takes only you to exercise, however to make it fun, you can exercise with your friends so that you have a support system. These five ways will prove that exercise can improve your life.
1. Muscle Development Benefits
When you jog, the large muscles of your lower legs are engaged, as are your abdominal muscles and arm muscles. Regular joggers and runners often look lean and toned, which is due to the muscle development that occurs naturally as you jog.
2. Exercise controls weight
Exercise can help prevent excess weight gain or help maintain weight loss. When you engage in physical activity, you burn calories. The more intense the activity, the more calories you are likely to burn. If you can’t do an actual workout, get more active throughout the day in simple ways by taking the stairs instead of the elevator. However, make sure that you make an effort to exercise every single day, so that you can be fit.
3. Exercise combats health conditions and diseases
No matter what your current weight, being active boosts high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or “good,” cholesterol and decreases unhealthy triglycerides. This one-two punch keeps your blood flowing smoothly, which decreases your risk of cardiovascular diseases. In fact, regular physical activity can help you prevent and manage a wide range of health problems and concerns, including stroke, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, depression, and certain types of cancer, arthritis and falls.
4. Exercise improves mood
If you need an emotional lift or if you need to blow off some steam after a stressful day, a workout at the gym or a brisk 30-minute walk can help. Physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed. You may also feel better about your appearance and yourself when you exercise regularly, which can boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem.
5. Exercise boosts energy
Regular physical activity can improve your muscle strength and boost your endurance. Exercise and physical activity deliver oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and help your cardiovascular system work more efficiently. And when your heart and lungs work more efficiently, you have more energy to go about your daily chores.
Enjoy exercising and no matter how painful it can be at first, endure it, because good results will be coming your way.
