Heart disease is the leading cause
of death in the United States. To give you a better idea, it’s responsible for 655,000 deaths each year.
The good news is that there are ways
to prevent it. For example, it helps to eat a healthy diet. More specifically,
you want to eat vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.
Not only that, but exercise can help
as well. If anything, it’s one of the best things that you can do for your
body.
Want to learn more about its
benefits for physical and mental health? Then be sure to read the rest of the
post!
How
Often Should You Exercise?
Generally speaking, you want to get
at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity every week. If you can, try
to spread it out so that it’s not all on one day.
Also, it’s important to perform
muscle-strengthening exercises as well.
5
Things that Exercise Can Do For Your Physical and Mental health
Exercise is beneficial in several
ways. Here's what you need to know.
1.
It Can Help Lower Stress
When you exercise, your body
releases endorphins aka “feel-good hormones.” In other words, you'll feel
happier. Not only that, but it'll lower the amount of stress hormones (e.g.
cortisol) in the body.
In fact, it can even play a role in addiction recovery.
2.
It'll Strengthen Your Heart
Your heart, like the other muscles
in your body, will get stronger as you exercise. For one thing, it’ll be able
to pump blood more efficiently—that means that it won’t have to beat as hard,
which will help with your blood pressure.
In doing so, you’ll be at a lower
risk of heart disease.
3.
It Can Help You Control Your Weight
Exercise plays an important role
when it comes to controlling your weight. In fact, it’s one of the best ways to
prevent obesity along with diet.
Put it simply, you’ll lose weight if
you burn more calories than you eat and drink.
4.
It'll Strengthen Your Muscles and Bones
Physical activity is essential for
maintaining bone strength. The more you exercise, the stronger will be.
In addition to that, it’ll also
strengthen your muscles. Not only will that protect your joints, but it’ll also
give you better balance and coordination.
5.
It Can Help With Anxiety and Depression
Exercise can help those with anxiety
or depression. Ultimately, this has to do with the fact that it releases
endorphins, chemicals that can enhance your well-being.
In fact, one study has shown that
walking for an hour every day can reduce the risk of major depression by 26%.
The
Importance of Physical Activity
The bottom line is, exercise can
benefit your physical and mental health in more than one way. Given that, why wouldn't
you want to incorporate it into your schedule?
For more health-related posts like
this, check out the rest of our blog!
