7 Reasons why you should exercise

It shouldn't surprise you that sitting on the couch with a bag of potato chips in front of the TV for 5 hours is NOT good for you. So get up and exercise! Easier said than done? Read these 7 reasons why YOU should exercise and feel the motivation kick in.

1.) Strengthen your cardiovascular and respiratory system

Blood pressure is the measure of how much force is put on the walls of your arteries by the blood that passes through them. If cholesterol and other bad stuff start to clog your arteries, blood can’t flow smoothly and can mess up your blood flow, which can lead to really bad (life threatening) damage to your body. Exercising helps to make sure that “bad” cholesterol (called LDL for low-density lipoprotein) doesn’t build up in your blood, it helps lower your blood pressure, and helps you breath better too! Exercising is a way of training your body to take in oxygen better, so your lungs can actually fill more and get more oxygen to your body. Exercising will also strengthen your heart and lungs so blood can travel through your body better.

2.) Strengthen your bones and muscles

Exercise can help prevent the disease osteoporosis which harms your bones. By strength training (like lifting weights or working out with resistance), you reduce your risk of osteoporosis. It’s also important to do things like running and walking as a work out so your body can hold its own weight and become stronger that way.

3.) Manage your weight

It’s simple: exercising burns calories. Ate waaaay too much over the holiday season and packed on a few extra pounds? Start running a few times a week and watch yourself get back to your regular, healthy weight. If you burn more calories than you eat, then you’ll lose weight. The more you work out and the harder you work out, the more calories you burn. Burning calories can result in losing body fat, which can help you look and feel better, and lowers your risk of tons of health problems associated with obesity. Being a healthy weight is easier on your body too: if you’re overweight, you’re putting more strain on your bones and joints.

4.) Ease depression and manage pain and stress

Had a bad day? Go for a jog, a swim, or a ride on your bike! It has a lot to do with fancy medical science-y stuff, but exercising activates these chemicals called neurotransmitters which help nerve cells communicate with one another, which helps avoid depression. When you exercise, your body balance out these chemicals. Exercising also releases endorphins, which are neurotransmitters associated with feeling good, and provide a natural pain relief. So, blow off some steam, burn some calories, and in 30 minutes your bad day may take a turn for the better!

5.) Prevent cancer

Exercising can help lower the risk of colon, prostate, uterine lining, and breast cancer. Doctors and researchers aren’t exactly sure why this is, and more studies have to be done, but hey, no cancer is good thing.

6.) Snooze better

Having trouble sleeping and night? That will definitely hurt you the next day when you’re taking your math test. Exercise at least three hours before bedtime can help you relax and calm down which will help you sleep better.

7.) Prevent and Manage Diabetes

Exercising uses sugar in your body for energy, which lowers blood sugar levels. It also helps reduce blood sugar levels by making your body more sensitive to insulin, which allows your body to use insulin more efficiently to bring sugar to cells in your body. Have type 2 diabetes, or are at risk? Try working out for 30 minutes a few times a week and help fight its effects (or just fight it off!).

Sources:

The Mayo Clinic: 7 Benefits of Regular Physical Activity