In the past few years, the major boom of the fitness movement has increased interest in exercise. Mostly as a means to achieve weight goals and physical transformations, but deep down, what motivates people to exercise is the extensive sense of well-being that physical activity provides.
Exercise is a powerful tool not only to transform your body but also to transform your life in a positive way, and that is exactly what wellness is all about. Studies support that exercising at any age provides a wide range of health benefits.
Regular physical activity can help you feel more energetic throughout the day, relieve stress, improve your mental health, prevent diseases, and improve your self-esteem.
Reasons why exercise is essential for wellness
- It’s a mood booster
When you exercise your body releases the “feeling good” chemicals, like endorphins which make you feel more relaxed, and put you in a better mood.
In this way, exercise helps you deal with stress, anger, depression, and anxiety.
- It’s an ally for your mental health
Physical activity has shown to stimulate the growth of new brain cells, helping prevent early brain decline.
Exercise also makes your brain sharper, according to the American Medical Association (AMA), exercise improves cognitive function, as well as your ability to memorize and concentrate.
- Improves self-confidence
Regular exercise is a long-time investment in your wellness. The effort and motivation you put into it transform into a sense of achievement. When you feel fulfilled your self-confidence automatically boosts.
Also, the physical changes you may experience while having an exercising routine will make you feel better about your appearance, and promote higher self-esteem.
- Optimizes your sleep
Good sleep is a must when it comes to overall wellness, your body needs sleep to have a regular pattern of sleep and function properly.
Exercise helps you regulate sleep patterns. Doing relaxing exercises like yoga, or stretching in the afternoon can promote a good night’s rest.
- Prevents you from getting sick
A sedentary lifestyle goes against any concept of wellness. Not moving your body has big consequences for your health, it increases your risk of heart disease, and stroke.
Physical activity increases your oxygen levels. This leads to a healthier heart, healthy cholesterol levels, and protects you from coronary artery disease.
Exercising can also help lower triglyceride levels, and blood pressure.
How to increase physical activity?
In order for you to meet your 150 minutes of physical activity per day, you don’t necessarily need to train like you’re going to run a marathon, instead, you can add a variety of activities that go from light effort (walking, stretching, volleyball), to moderate/vigorous effort (biking, dancing, aerobics, basketball, jogging).
“You don’t stop moving from growing old, you grow old from stopping moving”.
Make sure you remember this the next time you don’t feel like exercising. Staying active is staying healthy, and helping you achieve that is our main goal here at Nature’s Discount.
