Short Note
Being physically active on a regular basis is vital to good health. “Physical activity” is not synonymous with “exercise.” Exercise is a subcategory of physical activity that is structured, repetitive, and purposeful.
Furthermore, exercise simply refers to engaging in some form of physical exercise, regardless of where or how. It does not mean visiting a gym or other club on a regular basis.
Serious health issues can be brought on by sitting for too long. It is believed to slow metabolism, reducing the body’s capacity to control blood pressure, break down body fat, and regulate blood sugar.
However, active individuals have a higher likelihood of living longer and are less likely to suffer from major illnesses and health problems.
The cardiovascular system may provide more oxygen to the body with each heartbeat as a result of regular exercise, and the pulmonary system can raise the maximum amount of oxygen that the lungs can take in.
Exercise benefits
1. Obesity prevention
When a person consumes too many calories, the extra calories are stored as fat in the body, which leads to obesity over time.
Exercise can help prevent weight gain or sustain weight reduction. Calorie burn occurs with physical exertion. You burn more calories when you engage in more vigorous exercise. Reduced body fat can be achieved with regular exercise and healthy eating.
2. Uplift joyful chemicals
Exercise releases endorphins, which provide sensations of happiness and joy. Exercise has even been proven to improve symptoms in those who are clinically depressed, according to studies.
Sometimes the treatment of depression with exercise is equally successful as the use of antidepressant pills. A person can stay fresh and cheerful by exercising because it increases their energy levels.
3. Enhance one’s self-image and confidence
Physical exercise may raise self-esteem and foster a good self-image. Exercise can immediately boost a person’s impression of their attractiveness, or self-worth, regardless of weight, size, gender, or age.
It has been demonstrated that aerobic exercise and resistance training will enhance self-image in less time.
4. Guard against cancer
Obesity and a sedentary lifestyle are to blame for up to one-third of cancer-related deaths, including the two cancers that are most prevalent in the United States, breast and colon cancer.
Another important factor in preventing and lowering the risk of many cancers is exercise. The estimated amount of daily physical activity to protect against colon, breast, prostate, endometrial, and lung cancer is 30 to 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity.
5. Stress and anxiety management
Physical and mental stress can be managed with regular exercise. Exercise also raises levels of norepinephrine, a substance that helps reduce the brain’s reaction to stress. Stress levels are significantly reduced by being active.
6. Diabetes management
In addition to enhancing general fitness and lowering your risk of heart disease and stroke, exercise can help you better regulate your blood sugar.
It’s essential to monitor your blood sugar before, during, and after exercise if you want to exercise safely. By understanding how your body reacts to exercise, you’ll be able to avoid potentially hazardous blood sugar fluctuations.
7. Heart health booster
Being a muscle, the heart requires exercise to stay in shape. When the heart is exercised, it can more easily continue to pump blood throughout the body at its highest level of efficiency. It’s possible that doing this will help it sustain its health for longer.
The likelihood of having a stroke and developing heart disease is decreased by regular exercise.
8. Enhances bones and muscles strength
You may maintain or build muscle mass and strength by engaging in muscle-strengthening exercises. By maintaining normal joint alignment, strong muscles and ligaments lessen your risk of joint and back pain.
A hip fracture is a serious health condition that can have life-changing negative effects, especially if you’re an older adult, and research shows that engaging in aerobics bone-strengthening physical activity of at least a moderately intense level can slow the loss of bone density that occurs with ageing.
9. Memory and brainpower booster
Exercise on a regular basis improves memory and learning capacity. The formation of memory- and learning-related cells in the hippocampus increases when you get sweaty.
According to research, sprinting helps adults in good health improve their vocabulary retention.
Additionally, an intense workout boosts levels of a brain-derived protein in the body, which is believed to aid in decision-making, higher learning, and thinking.
(References: Research Gate, NCBI)
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