Psychological Benefits Of Physical Fitness

 

Psychological Benefits Of Physical Fitness

By Anita Bern

 

Benefits of being physically fit and healthy go beyond mere physical health. Everyone knows that physical activity helps control your weight, builds muscles, and gives you great abs - but did you know that it also improves your mental health and mood, and helps you beat stress? The health benefits of regular exercise are numerous.

Regular physical activity makes you feel better, and - of course - look better, which in turn boosts your self-esteem. It helps you sleep better, and concentrate better. It can even improve your sex life!

When you exercise, your brain releases natural chemicals that work to improve your mood. That's why one will typically feel happier - maybe even euphoric - and more relaxed right after the exercise. It's more than just a sense of accomplishment - although that can help boost your mood too! Even those suffering from clinical depression and anxiety disorders can benefit from this healthy buzz brought by endorphins, your brain's natural feel-good chemicals.

Physical exercise can help combat stress, both mental and physical, by increasing the levels of norepinephrine, a chemical that moderates your brain's stress response. During any physical activity, a cocktail of brain chemicals is being released: it has been proven that some of these chemicals can, for example, prevent age-related memory loss and improve overall brain performance. Studies suggest that high-intensity workout increases levels of a specific protein that is believed to help with learning, thinking and decision making. Regular physical activity boosts your memory and the ability to learn new things!

Exercising can be your precious "me time", a perhaps rare opportunity to take a break without feeling guilty. It can give you something to look forward to, and provide you with a sense of purpose. Taking part in physical activities can also be a chance to engage with the larger community - which is in itself an important mental health benefit.

An active lifestyle can reduce your risk of dying early from the leading causes of death - heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancer - in a way that no other lifestyle factor, over which you have a full control, can. When you engage in any form of physical activity, oxygen and nutrients are delivered to your heart and lungs more efficiently, and you feel a boost of energy. Being active boosts "good" cholesterol while decreasing harmful triglycerides, which keeps your blood flowing smoothly. And that in turn cuts your risk of cardiovascular diseases! If you already have high blood pressure, physical exercise is your doctor's order!

It is never too late to become physically active. All these health benefits are yours for the taking! Regular physical activity, along with healthy nutrition, is the closest anyone can hope to get to the real-life elixir of youth!