Exercise Can Do More Than Improve Your Appearance!
By Donna Stark
Spring is here, and that means one thing ... millions of people will be getting their bodies back into shape. But there are so many more benefits to improving overall fitness than just looking good in a bathing suit. In fact, physical activity is one of the most important contributors to optimal health and wellness. If you want to reduce the risk of, or positively impact, certain medical conditions you have to keep your body moving!
Physical Activity for Better Health
Of course, daily exercise is great if you want to improve your physical appearance, but let's not forget about how it can also improve your present and future health! Take a look at how you can enjoy better health simply by staying active and moving your body every day.
- Heart disease - Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the country, so if there is anything you can do to reduce the risk of it occurring, do it! Especially, if it's as easy as exercise. With as little as 30 minutes a day, you can lower your blood pressure, lose weight, and regulate cholesterol levels.
- Osteoporosis - You may have thought the only things to help reduce the risk of osteoporosis are calcium and Vitamin D, but you would be mistaken. Exercise can help too! Staying physically fit and incorporating weight-bearing exercises into your fitness routine can help slow the rate of bone loss, strengthen bones, and improve balance.
- Obesity - It's easy to see how daily exercise can help counter the rising obesity rates in the country, but it's not always easy to see the hidden benefits that come with that weight loss. Losing those extra pounds can reduce the strain on the body's major systems, muscles, and joints.
- Arthritis - Did you know that physical activity is usually recommended for arthritis sufferers? That's because movement can help alleviate pain and increase a person's range of motion, joint function, flexibility, and strength. If you suffer from arthritis, your best bet is to engage in low-impact workouts, such as walking, cycling, and swimming.
- Cognitive decline - You knew you would be giving your body a workout with exercise but have you ever considered the workout your brain would be getting too? Exercise can reduce the risk, or slow the progression, of cognitive decline by improving memory, encouraging critical thinking skills, and sharpening concentration.
The Whole-Body Approach
Looking good is important for so many of us, but the benefits of a great physical appearance will only go so far if your health is in a steady state of decline. Thankfully, exercise is a whole-body approach that will have you feeling and looking great for years to come!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Bellevue, Wash.