Everyone knows that exercise is good for your body. It’s what we’re taught from a young age. As we grow older, we learn that it is also good for your mind, and somewhat later we also learn that exercise has other more sexual-related benefits. There are of course many factors that play roles in what our bodies and minds feel like, but few of them are as prominent as the effects that exercise, or the lack of it, can have on our physical and mental states. It is an age-old belief that doing exercise gets rid of the “bugs” in your body as well as your mind.
But just how do we know that exercise is good for us? How do we know exercise isn’t just another ‘trend’? Well, many tests have been done to prove this of course. Exercise has been proven again and again to increase the value of our lives as well as lengthen it.
What are the benefits of the exercise?
When you exercise your body releases endorphins, little “magical things” that make you feel good. Endorphins are actually chemicals that your body releases that cause feelings of euphoria, and who couldn’t do with some of that? Other than making us feel happier in the long run, exercise helps our minds to cope with stress and depression. Just going for a jog can make a world of difference after a day of mental strain.
Another valuable benefit of exercise is obviously weight control. Everyone wants to feel attractive, and if you have reached your ideal weight you not only feel more attractive, you are! Confidence has long been found irresistible. As we age considerably, we will also notice that exercise has notable effects on our mental state. It can even help us fight against bad memory without really trying too hard. In short, exercise is good for you, if not always fun.
Why is exercise good for your body?
Your body ages from the day that you are born. It is a sad fact that you won’t have that supple and smooth skin forever; your heart won’t be as strong as it started out and your muscles won’t stay strong unless they are used effectively. As with anything that ages, it cannot be stopped. But exercise helps your body to beat back the effects of aging for as long as possible.
The wonderful thing about exercise is that its effects on your body can not only be felt, but it can also be seen. Do enough exercise, and your skin will look younger, your muscles will be stronger, your body will look firmer in general, and you will be more prone to smiling. When you have a healthy body, your mind feels better too, giving a better mood in general Doing cardio-vascular exercise also does wonders for your heart, helping you to keep it strong and healthy and thereby increasing your blood flow. Stronger muscles and better endurance will help you to enjoy life much more in the long term. You won’t be out of breath when that elevator breaks again and you need to take the stairs and carrying heavy objects won’t leave you huffing and puffing.
Why is exercise good for mental health?
Many people talk about the benefits of exercise on your brain and mental health, but when asked they can’t say exactly why. Simply put, it is because our minds and bodies are linked. A healthier body is host to a healthier mind. Again, the endorphins are the x-factor, as they are chemicals that improve your mood dramatically. Exercise has also been proven to help improve memory, a wonderful benefit not to be overlooked. Getting sweaty is also a great way to get rid of stress and tension.
So why is exercise healthy? This question cannot simply be answered by giving types of exercises or going into detailed explanations of how exercise makes you healthier. There are many factors that need to be taken into account when discussing the reason exercise is healthy. Consider why having a healthy heart is good for circulation and brain activity; think about why toned muscles are more beneficial than flabby, unused muscles that forgot its own purpose. There are many discussions on why exercise is healthy and an important factor in life.
How much should you exercise every day?
As a general rule, it is believed that the average adult should exercise at the very least 150 minutes of the aerobic variety a week. It is also recommended to do two sessions of strength training a week. Exercises like swimming and walking are considered aerobic, but this is only moderate. For more effective and vigorous exercise running and aerobic dancing is considered favorites by many. For strength training weight machines or even your own body can be used. Activities like rock climbing and resistance tubing are also trusted strength training options. Aim to do at least 30 minutes of exercise a week as this is the bare minimum amount that will actually be healthy and beneficial. It is worth looking into what Harvard also had to say on the matter.
Naturally, when discussing exercise routines and plans, it should be remembered that overdoing it and hurting yourself should be avoided. Exercising every day is the logical question, but keep in mind that doing the same exercises every day won’t be as effective and will become repetitive and boring and many people will stop exercising for this reason. Do not do weight training every day as this is counter-effective for your muscles. Give them a day or two of rest. Simply do a routine of weight lifting that will fatigue you twice or three times a week. For cardio exercise, three or five times a week is good. Do it for no less than twenty minutes and no more than sixty.
Conclusion
Exercise can have a whole range of wonderful effects on your body as well as your mind. Exercise keeps your muscles young but also helps to keep your mental capacities at their best. Whether you prefer doing vigorous workouts, prefer to combine nature and science and use boosters or like a more mellow approach like yoga, exercise should be a daily part of your life, for your body’s sake as well as your mind’s. Diets and detox plans are always stealing the limelight when it comes to weight loss and healthy living, but without keeping things balanced and adding exercise into the mix, you will not get the best results.
