Physical exercise can be defined as the movements that our body makes in order to exercise the muscles and ensure that the body can burn calories.
There are many types of exercise that can be done to accomplish this, for example: swimming, running, jogging, dancing, and cycling are just a few of the hundreds of ways the body can exercise .
Having an active lifestyle and doing these activities or some sport, can give our body, in turn, great health benefits.
6 benefits of practicing physical activities
1. Increase happiness
Exercise is an excellent antidepressant: it improves mood and reduces depressive feelings, stress, and anxiety. This is achieved by increasing the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine, two hormones responsible for managing moods, the higher their levels, the happier the person will be.
In addition, physical activity can also be a source of endorphins, which cause positive feelings and reduce sensitivity to pain.
2. It is good for bones and muscles
Exercise is essential for maintaining healthy bones and muscles. This happens because exercise helps the release of hormones that help muscles to optimally absorb amino acids that enter the body from a high-protein diet, which helps the muscle grow and slows its breakdown.
As people age, they tend to lose muscle mass and, therefore, tend to be more prone to injury or disability related to this deficiency.
The fact of practicing physical activities regularly is essential in old age, since it helps to reduce the loss of muscle mass and keeps the muscle strong even during this stage.
3. Increase energy levels
Exercise can be the perfect alternative for people who suffer from some type of chronic disease, as well as for perfectly healthy people. Studies suggest that people who exercise regularly experience less chronic fatigue .
4. Reduces risk factors for chronic diseases
The absence of regular physical activity is one of the primary causes of chronic diseases. Regular exercise has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity, leading to a lower risk of diabetes. On the contrary, if you have a total absence of exercise, even in the short term, you can see unfavorable symptoms such as increased fat in the abdomen and heart disease, among others.
5. Helps the skin stay healthy
The skin is affected by the daily oxidative stress to which it is subjected. This stress is created when the antioxidant defenses of our body are unable to repair the damage to which tissues have been subjected by free radicals. This causes damage to the internal structures of the skin, deteriorating it over time.
While physical activity can contribute somewhat to the creation of oxidative stress, medium-impact exercise can increase the production of natural antioxidants, which inhibits oxidative action and helps protect cells.
6. It’s good for memory
Days of physical exercise can optimize brain function and prevent our memory from deteriorating in conjunction with thinking skills. This happens because exercising increases the heart rate, which in turn causes greater oxygenation in the blood and, therefore, in the brain.
References
- Mayo Clinic Staff. 7 benefits of regular physical activity for Mayo Clinic [Reviewed February 2017]
