Health

The Enduring Benefits of Exercise

May 13, 2009
By J White

Exercise is one gift that you can give to your body that always pays off with some positive benefits. However, excuses for not exercising range from I do not have enough time, I’m already slim, I’m to old, I have a health problem, I’m too out of shape, or to the most pretentious excuse, I don’t like to sweat.

Even though these excuses may seem legitimate to you, they are just robbing you of a much better life. To help you better see the value of exercise, here are some important health reasons for you to start.

And to keep you from falling into the out of sight, out of mind mindset, tape this list to your refrigerator or keep it somewhere that you will see it everyday.

Enduring Benefits of Exercise

Reduces Risk to Heart Disease Exercise helps to reduce plaque buildup on your arteries by helping to increase good cholesterol in your blood. Cholesterol can interrupt blood flow and increase your risk of heart attack or stroke. And just because you are slim does not mean that these diseases cannot happen to you.

Lowers High Blood Pressure Millions of Americans have high blood pressure, which is easily reduced by regular exercise. Many studies have found that not long after beginning an exercise program – 3 weeks to 3 months– blood pressure starts to decline, which means no expensive prescription pills. And the best part is that it can be either low or moderately intense exercises. All you have to do is make the effort.

Decreases Risk of Diabetes Diabetes is a disease which occurs when your body does not produce or use insulin properly. There are two types: Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Type 1 occurs when you body does not produce insulin. Type 2, the more common, occurs when your body does not use insulin properly. Regular exercise along with a healthy diet makes Type 2 diabetes a preventable disease. By regularly exercising, the sugar in your blood can be converted to energy for your muscles instead of having to rely on insulin to remove it from your bloodstream.

Counters Obesity In addition to the health risk obesity attracts, it also takes a toll on your self-esteem as well as your body. Obesity raises your risks for heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea, asthma, and a host of other maladies. It should go without saying that exercise helps obese people to lose weight and reduce these health risks. And even if you have health problems, doctors still recommend exercise as a means to alleviate them.

Helps to Halt Osteoporosis This condition is marked by a decrease in bone density and deterioration. Bones then become weak, porous, and fragile, and, as such, become a major contributor to bone fractures. This is especially true among older adults. By exercising, bones are strengthened. And like muscles, bones grow physically stronger when they are stressed. Exercises such as walking, jogging, or resistance training helps bones to grow and increase in density, thus lowering your risk of osteoporosis by making your bones healthier.

Increases Immunity With the risk of ailments being more easily circulated from all around the world, a healthy immune system is ever more important. Research has found that regular exercise helps your immune system to improve by circulating immune cells more quickly to better destroy viruses and bacteria.

Contributes to Long Life If all the above is not enough to persuade you to exercise, hopefully this one will. Study after study has shown that exercise adds years to your life. Not only that, it also helps you to maintain more of your mobility and it also helps to counter genetic tendencies towards early death. To enjoy these benefits, all you have to do is add exercise to your daily routine. So what are you waiting for? Move your body!

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