09/10/2024
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲
In order to be motivated to stick to a health routine, it helps to understand what the benefits are.
This gives you the “why” to push yourself every day.
When it comes to physical activity, there are numerous reasons why you should engage in some form of movement or exercise every day.
Benefits of physical activity include:
𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲
It may seem counterintuitive to get up early to exercise, or to hit the gym after a busy workday when you are already tired.
But regular physical activity actually boosts energy levels!
While it can be hard to get started at the beginning of a workout, most guys start feeling more invigorated as endorphins are released by exercise.
By the end of a workout, the majority of men end up feeling even more energized than when they started.
Plus, the more you work out, the more long-lasting these boosts in energy will be.
In one research meta-analysis, chronic aerobic exercise and strength training programs, as well as those that combined elements of flexibility, strength, and aerobic exercise, were all associated with increased feelings of energy and lessened feelings of fatigue.
𝐋𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐥
Regular physical activity improves a number of health markers.
High cholesterol is closely tied to inactivity and obesity.
Research has shown that even moderate weight loss can decrease your risk for chronic diseases, such as high cholesterol.
Lowering cholesterol levels improves cardiovascular health and decreases your risk for serious complications such as heart attack and stroke.
Not only this but by improving your cholesterol levels with exercise, you can decrease your dependence on cholesterol-lowering medications.
𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡
Obesity is also strongly correlated with high blood pressure.
Weight gain, commonly linked to inactivity, is a major cause of hypertension.
Being overweight or obese accounts for up to 65% to 75% of the risk for high blood pressure.
Being physically inactive is closely tied to high blood pressure independent of weight.
Not only have studies found that physical activity helps decrease blood pressure, but a recent 2017 meta-analysis from the journal “Hypertension” found that the more you exercise, the more benefits you will have.
Overall, this study found that the health benefits of exercise can be achieved not only at relatively low levels of exercise but that there are actually additional decreases in the risk for hypertension as you go above the minimum recommendations of 150 minutes a week.
𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐠𝐚𝐫
Just like being overweight increases the risk of high cholesterol and hypertension, it also is strongly correlated with an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes.
Regular physical activity allows your body to better metabolize and utilize blood glucose, which keeps your blood sugars regulated.
This is important for people that already have diabetes, and for those at risk of developing this chronic disease.
Exercise and lifestyle interventions are key, along with a healthy diet, in improving health outcomes in individuals with high blood sugar and diabetes.
𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡
You may think that physical activity is just about building up your muscle strength and endurance, but it also plays a big role in improving your bone health.
Resistance training can increase bone mineral density, which lowers your risk of osteoporosis and also decreases chronic issues like low back pain.
The type of strength training doesn’t have to be intense, but by using weight-bearing exercises you will strengthen your bones and decrease your risk for fractures, especially as you age.
𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐩
Exercise also allows you to get more high-quality sleep.
Sleep affects our bodies and our minds in so many ways.
It plays a role in our physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Plus, when you wake up from a good night's rest, you are more energized and ready to take on the day.
Exercise has been found to increase sleep quality in older adults, and even in individuals that suffer from insomnia.
For example, a 2015 study from the “Journal of Sleep Research” found that people with insomnia who spent at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity over the course of a week had improved sleep quality along with a decrease in symptoms of depression and anxiety.
𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐜𝐥𝐞
Sarcopenia, or the loss of muscle mass, is associated with the decline in testosterone as men age.
However, regular exercise can help counteract this by boosting testosterone levels.
In fact, total testosterone and free testosterone are elevated directly following heavy resistance exercise in men.
Even in older and middle-aged men, resistance exercise can cause a significant increase in total and free testosterone.
This in turn will help improve lean body composition.
Increased lean muscle mass produced by physical activity is important for a number of reasons.
For one, having a higher lean muscle mass will burn more calories on a daily basis, which will help you maintain healthy body weight.
This will subsequently decrease your risk for chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes.
Plus, having an improved body composition with less fat and more muscle will help you achieve a strong and toned physique.
Something that all busy dads are happy to achieve with regular exercise.
𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡
An abundance of medical literature demonstrates that regular exercise is associated with a decreased incidence of depression.
There are a number of reasons for this, such as improved sleep, enhanced overall health, and a better body image.
In addition, research shows that neurotransmitters released by exercise may improve brain function and possibly play a role in the reduction of depressive symptoms.
This is just one more reason to stay active on a daily basis!
