Glance around the gym, and you'll
probably see lots of people who are exercising in an attempt to shed pounds,
tone muscle and look better. But numerous research studies
have uncovered many other benefits to working out ones that aren't
necessarily visible from the outside. Here, some of the awesome ways
exercise can benefit your mind, body and soul:
It zaps anxiety. Ever notice that you can
start a workout feeling stressed and anxious, and end it feeling good? It isn't
in your head.waistline
Or, actually, it is: According to
a new study from Princeton University, exercise appears
to change the chemistry of the brain by causing the release of GABA, a
neurotransmitter that helps quiet brain activity and minimize anxiety. The
study found that people who ran regularly had a low reaction to stressful
situations, even if they hadn't run in more than 24 hours.
It boosts immunity. Regular exercise can reduce your risk of certain serious
health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. It can
also decrease your chances of developing -- and getting stuck with -- more
common illnesses, such as flus and colds. (According to one recent study,
colds lasted 43% longer for people who exercised once a week or less.)
It brings on better sleep. If you're having sleep
problems, skip the pills and hit the pool, track or spin studio. According to
one study, people who exercised regularly for about 10 weeks
reported sleeping better than they had previously.
What exactly does
"better" mean? In this case, it translated to dozing off faster and
having a decreased need for sleep-promoting medication.
It decreases PMS. Women often report feeling
irritable and bloated before their periods, but exercise appears to minimize
these conditions. In a survey of
nearly 2,000 New Zealand women, researchers found that those who exercised,
rested and wrote in a journal about their symptoms fared better than those who
took specific vitamins or followed other DIY advice.
It gets you in the mood. You may have heard that
smelling thepheromones in sweat can make you want to get down and
dirty -- but that's not the main reason exercise can lead to sex. For men,
exercise can lower the risk of erectile dysfunction, and it gives both genders stamina and feel-good vibes about the body.
It strengthens the brain. Studies have
found that working out can lessen the severity of memory problems in older
adults, and even decrease the risk of diseases like Alzheimer's. It can also
have a positive benefit on the brain function of younger people. Researchout
of New Zealand shows that exercise improves executive function -- the general
brain processes that include planning, memory, reasoning, problem-solving and
more.
It improves body image. After summarizing the
effects of 57 separate studies, a group of researchers determined that
exercise does indeed improve how you feel about your body.
No comments:
Post a Comment