Health conscious people know that exercising on a regular basis is good for them. Leading an active lifestyle helps to increase muscle, improve energy levels and maintain a healthy weight. People who get several hours of exercise every week may also notice they are not as likely to get sick as their less active peers do.
If you want to begin exercising regularly you should start slowly. Give your body time to adjust. If you are not used to strenuous activity you may experience a heart attack or stroke. If you have any any health issues like diabetes, arthritis or cardiac problems, you should talk with your doctor before you increase the level of your physical activity.
Exercise Can Increase Immune Levels
Colds and flu are the most common health problems that occur during cold weather. If you are more active than most people, you tend to stay healthy because your immune level is strong. Recent studies have found that exercise causes special cells to attack any virus or bacteria present. Some experts believe the higher body temperature you reach while you exercise attacks bacteria and helps your body fight off infection. You should also avoid stressing your body with too much exercise since this may increase the chance you will get sick.
You Will Be More Healthy If You Stay Fit
Heart
People who weigh more than they should cause their body to be stressed, and stress can cause some serious health problems. Heart attack and stroke are two of the most deadly health problems doctors see today. Regular exercise can reduce the risk of these health issues and also lower your blood pressure and cholesterol. If you get at least two and one-half hours of aerobic exercise each week, you can reduce the chance you will develop Cardiac diseases.
Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes has been on the rise over the past few decades, but you can reduce your risk of this health problem with exercise and diet. The presence of high blood sugar, fat around the waist, high blood pressure and low HDL cholesterol can cause people to get type 2 diabetes. Some or all of these health problems can be reduced with 150 minutes of exercise each week.
Cancer
You can avoid some forms of cancer when you get more exercise. Studies show that people who are more active have a lower risk of getting colon and breast cancer. Studies also show that active people are not as likely to get lung cancer. But the reason may be that smokers who get this disease are less likely to exercise.
Diet and Exercise
Losing weight can be hard. But you can do it if you eat lower calorie foods that are high in nutrients. Generally, natural foods are better than processed. Keep track of how many calories you take in every day. Make sure you burn more than you consume. Exercise helps you build muscle, burn calories and increase your energy levels. The amount of exercise you need to maintain your weight varies person to person. This means you will have to work to reach your ideal level through trial and error.
Exercise Can Help Prevent Problems As You Age
You will find exercise can help you stay strong and healthy as you enter your senior years. Healthy muscles, joints and bones help you to enjoy your life even as you age. The loss of bone density along with a reduced sense of balance is the reason many elderly people end up with broken bones after a fall. When you keep up with your exercise, you can slow the loss of strong bones that many older people experience. Arthritis is also a disease that affects most seniors. But the flexibility of joints can be improved with daily aerobic activity. This is a good way to make your life better as you get older.
Many older people get some form of dementia as they age. But you can lower your risk of this type of disease if you get enough exercise. Studies show that even a low level of activity has mental health benefits. While you may not be at an age where you need to worry about age-related problems yet, it is good to start where you are and continue so you will have a long and healthy life.
More resources: https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/pa-health/index.htm
This article was recently edited. Originally published on July 4, 2018.
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