All of us lead busy stress filled lives. As we try to keep up with our daily deadlines, corporate meeting and assignments (forced on to us by our evil bossesJ) many of us forget to look after our bodies. This usually affects us in the later parts of our lives an unhealthy individual is often troubled with health related problems. These problems don’t allow him to live his life to the fullest. Here are a few benefits of exercise which I believe will make you get up from your couch and start vying for a better lifestyle.
1. HEALTHY SKIN:
Working out will impart a healthy glow to your skin. It will clear out the unwanted acne and those annoying blackheads which we all hate. The reason behind why exercise does this is very simple- as and when you work out, your heart pumps out blood more vigorously than it does normally. This blood which has been pumped with greater force can now reach the outermost layers of your skin. So now, more and more oxygenated blood is reaching your skin and the result? Well you guessed it! Your skin becomes healthier because of all the extra oxygen. Sweating during exercise will help in flushing out toxins and excess oil from the pores of your skin, so if you have got long term skin problems, then exercise may well be the cure you have been looking for….
2. SOUND SLEEP:
Whenever you are agitated or under stress, the brain releases cortisol, a hormone which primarily induces the fight or flight mechanism. We however, in our lives neither get into brawls or run, but rather rack our brains in front of our laptops and computers. Thus the hormone keeps circulating in our blood stream because it is not getting used up. So you feel restless at night, even when you are tired and you want to sleep. However, exercise is the release value for the pent up cortisol and this helps you relax and sleep better.
If you sleep well at night, your overall performance during the day improves and you feel fresher and more energetic.
3. BOOSTING YOUR IMMUNITY:
When you exercise your circulation increases, because of this your white blood cell production increases, these cells move throughout your body and not only protect you from incoming diseases and pathogens, this makes you look healthy and less “under the weather”. Because of the increased white blood cell count, your old wounds and minor little cuts and bruises tend to heal faster.
It is common knowledge that the lymph nodes of the body are located near our muscles. When we exercise, our muscles contract and relax, and this in turn causes the lymph nodes to do the same. Because of this lymphatic fluid is released in the body, greater than average. The waste and toxins of your body are pumped out more often with the increased release of lymphatic fluid. Hence your puffiness of your body decreases.
4. REDUCED STRESS:
It is true!!! Exercise reduces stress. Our brain and our body are connected by millions of different neurons. So if our mind is stressed so are our bodies.
If we relax our bodies by exercise our mind also simultaneously relaxes with it. The result is that you feel more peaceful and more at ease throughout the day. Not only this, but exercising produces endorphins. Endorphins are natural painkillers produced by the brain- they not only reduce stress and help you feel better but they also activate your immune system and certain types of cells that destroy cancerous growth.
If you exercise regularly you not only help your body to get rid of that extra fat and glob but also provide your body with the above benefits. Exercise comes as a whole package and in today’s world where we are already fighting pollution and new resistant bacteria’s and viruses our bodies need all the help they can get from us. Thus it is our duty to stay fit and healthy and keep our immune system cranked up to the maximum.
So, what are you waiting for? Get up, be active and be fit and healthy!!!