The Reasons For Exercising. Amazing Things You May Not Know
You could give me 10 or more reasons for exercising. The problem is not that people don’t know that exercising is the key to aging well.
The problem is that only a third of us do 30 minutes of exercise a day. Here are some amazing reasons for exercising which you may not know:
- Brain function. Exercise makes a type of Miracle-Gro for the brain. When exercising, your brain makes a substance called brain-derived neurotrophic factor. It is a type of brain food.
Studies have found that active people are more likely to be better adjusted and perform better on tests of cognitive function. And scientists believe this exercise-induced “ brain food” is the reason.
- Mood. After a stressful day, exercise can calm and improve your mood. According to researchers at the University of Missouri, thirty minutes of moderate- to – intense exercise can leave you still feeling on top of the world ninety minutes later. And,
This is because exercise causes the brain to release endorphins, which are natural mood elevators. It’s like taking an antidepressant pill but with exercise.
The effect holds true as long as you are exercising. If you stop exercising, the mood benefits fade with your general fitness.
Regular exercise also improves self-confidence and self-esteem.
- Immune function and sickness. Both athlete surveys and randomized studies (done on all sorts of people) have shown that people who do moderate exercise on a near daily basis experience fewer sick days.
Exercisers report taking about half the number of sick days as their sedentary peers and having 23 percent fewer upper respiratory tract infections.
- Cancer prevention. Exercising can decrease the risk of breast cancer by up to 60 percent by lowering levels of two of the ovarian hormones linked to breast cancer, estradiol and progesterone.
Exercise also can decrease the risk of rectal cancer by 40 percent and decrease the risk of dying from prostate cancer by 50 percent. If you have or have had cancer, exercise can be of great physical and mental benefit.
- Erectile dysfunction. For some of the same reasons exercise is good for your heart, exercise is great for sexual function.
Physiologically, erection is all about healthy blood flow. And, men who exercise have been found to have 41 percent less erectile dysfunction than those who sit on the couch.
Keep It Simple
When you are getting started, it is important to keep it simple. Don’t make a big plan with multiple goals. Go for a walk, run, swim, or row – anything that is practical for you.
Remember that just making the decision to exercise does not erase years of sedentary buildup.
So don’t try to make it up all at once. Many people start with walking first. It is simple and practical since you can just open the front door and start, and let’s face it, there’s no new skill to learn.
Want to know more about exercising? Then, post your question below.
Yours truly for great health, mind and body,
Michelle, natural health advocate
February 05 2010 12:05 am | Fitness
July 30th, 2010 at 4:13 am
Just wanted to give you a shout from the valley of the sun, great information. Much appreciated.