The Physical Activity Guidelines by the UK Chief Medical Officers advise adults to aim to do at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week.
According to research, exercise has a number of benefits on the brain, body, and mind. It can improve mental health, increase physical strength, and even lengthen your lifespan. Although, these are just a few of the many reasons to exercise.
Today we’re going to discuss three of the most important reasons to exercise. In addition, we’ll give you some exercise tips to provide you with the best possible results!
Boost the Memory
Research done by the University of British Columbia found that regular aerobic exercise can boost the size of the hippocampus. The hippocampus is one of the most vital components of the brain. It is responsible for emotion, memory, learning, and the autonomic nervous system.
Dementia is so detrimental because it results in the shrinkage of the hippocampus. It is estimated that by 2050, more than 115 million people will suffer from dementia. However, research has shown that aerobic exercise can significantly slow the shrinkage of the hippocampus in Dementia patients.
Improve Mental Health
More than 45 percent of Americans will have a diagnosable mental health condition at some point in their lifetime. Fortunately, research on depression has shown that exercise can significantly reduce anxiety and improve mood through the release of endorphins.
Moreover, exercise can make a great coping strategy for those struggling with depression. Consuming alcohol, dwelling on your negative feelings, or hoping depression will go away on its own can worsen symptoms.
Fight Aging and Disease
Beyond increasing brain function, exercise is also one of the best defenses against aging.
The benefits of exercise in regards to aging are endless. It can improve lung and heart health and delay or reduce the chances of developing chronic disease.
Some of the conditions that regular exercise can help reduce or prevent include:
- Cancer
- Type 2 diabetes
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Osteoporosis
- Cardiovascular Disease
According to the American Heart Association, more than 250,000 deaths per year in the United States can be attributed to a lack of regular exercise. This goes to show the importance of exercise since a sedentary lifestyle can be fatal.
It’s also worth noting that it’s never too late to reap the benefits of exercise. It can reverse the severity of chronic illnesses such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Even light exercise can drastically improve your health.
Exercising for Beginners
Almost all studies conducted on the benefits of exercise indicate that some exercise is better than none. Contrary to popular belief, hardcore exercising and weight lifting aren’t necessary to reap the benefits of exercise.
According to Medical News Today, some of the best exercises for beginners include:
- Marching in place
- Jogging in place
- Jump rope or air jump rope
- Arm circles
- Squats
- Trunk rotation
Once you’ve mastered these exercises, you can move on to more intense activities such as bear crawling, burpees, and stair climbing.
If you’re out of shape, you may feel sore after exercising. It may be worth investing in a vibration machine to counter soreness, improve blood flow, and prevent injuries.
The Many Reasons to Exercise Regularly
From preventing disease to countering aging, the reasons to exercise are endless. Regular exercise can improve the quality of life and provide a significant confidence boost.
It’s best to consult a personal trainer and develop a workout routine that works for you. This will not only help you stick with it, but you’ll learn proper form to avoid injuries and maximize results.
We hope we’ve given you that little bit of extra motivation you needed to hit the gym! If so, be sure to check out our other exercise and health-related articles.