Despite the myriad of benefits associated with regular physical activity, most of the spotlight is reserved for weight-loss success stories. But there are more reasons to get your sweat on then fitting into your favourite pair of jeans. So to remind you of all the good exercise does, here are 10 more reasons to get moving.
You’ll be happier
Study after study has demonstrated the positive effect regular exercise has on mental health. In fact, moderate to high intensity exercise has been shown to be comparable to an antidepressant: people who exercise repeatedly report fewer symptoms of depression and less anxiety and stress. The best part about the link between exercise and mental health? The benefits are immediate and evident after as little as 20 minutes in the gym.
Your ticker will be healthier
The bottom line is, exercise saves lives by making hearts stronger and more resilient. And while there has been some suggestion of late that too much exercise is hard on the heart, the benefits of regular exercise far outweigh the risks. That holds true for patients with heart disease, who can arguably benefit more from a heart that’s healthier and more enduring as a result of regular exercise.
You’ll hurt less
Regular exercise has the potential to reduce knee pain, get rid of backaches and make sore hips less uncomfortable. So while most people think exercise will make achy joints worse, building up the strength of the muscles surrounding arthritic joints can ease pain. The same principle holds for an exercise program built with your sore back in mind. But it is important to know that joint and back pain respond best to exercise programs designed by a health or fitness professional with a background in rehabilitative fitness, which means you’ll need more than a run of the mill fitness class or exercise program downloaded from the Internet. A trip to a physiotherapist or similar professional with a background in exercise science is your best option.
You’ll be smarter
Several studies have indicated improved math and reading scores in schools that incorporate physical activity breaks throughout the school day versus those that don’t. Similar results were found in older adults who performed cognitive tests before and after enrolling in a regular exercise program. But it’s not just test scores that improve with fitness. Memory also gets better with exercise, which suggests that working out regularly promotes better brain fitness.
You’ll sleep better
Regular bouts of running, walking, yoga, Pilates, callisthenics and weight training are all associated with better sleep habits as compared to spending leisure time in front of a screen. As for how much exercise is needed to enhance sleep, a study of 2,600 men and women found that 150 minutes of exercise a week provided a 65 per cent improvement in sleep quality. The group also reported feeling less sleepy during the day.
You’ll live longer
Ten minutes of light activity daily is all it takes to lower mortality rates in the over-50 crowd. Researchers out of the University of Pennsylvania followed a group of 50- to 79-year-olds and found that the least active were five times more likely to die over the course of the study than those who were active, and three times more likely to die than those who did even small amounts of regular physical activity. Other studies suggest that 150 minutes of exercise a week can extend your life by as many as five years.
You’ll feel younger
Regular exercise reduces the risk and/or slows the progression of many age-related medical conditions, which can diminish not just quality of life but also the ability to perform physically and mentally challenging tasks. The newest studies also reveal exercise has an anti-aging effect at the cellular level that can delay the effects of aging on the brain and muscles.
You’ll have more energy
Repeated studies featuring everyone from healthy adults to cancer survivors have reported that exercise boosts lagging energy levels. That may seem counterintuitive, but even small bouts of light exercise have been known to chase away fatigue, boost concentration and improve stamina. So whether you’re suffering from the mid-day blahs or need the extra boost to study for exams or meet a deadline, taking a few minutes off for a workout will improve vitality and productivity.
You’ll have better sex
Men who exercise regularly have better erectile and sexual function than dudes who never see the inside of a gym. In a study of 300 men, those who accumulated three and a half hours of moderate intensity of exercise per week scored better in all areas of sexual function than those who exercised less. In a separate study, results indicate that men who increase exercise in mid-life decreased their risk of erectile dysfunction by 70 per cent.
You’ll get fewer colds
The average couch potato gets two or three colds a year. The average exercise enthusiast gets the sniffles once or twice thanks to an improved immune system that helps fight off the germs related to colds and upper respiratory infections. But that’s not all. Fit individuals who get colds experience less severe symptoms and recover more quickly than those who don’t exercise.
