The Top 10 Reasons To Exercise

Copyright (c) 2009 Stephen Smith

Here are the top 10 reasons to exercise. These will explain the major benefits to exercise and hopefully help you create the motivation necessary to make exercise a permanent part of your lifestyle.

1. Elevates your metabolism.

Any exercise will substantially elevate your metabolism, which means you burn more calories (and more body fat) every day. By keeping your metabolism elevated you slow down the natural physical decline that normally starts to occur around the age of 30.

2. Increases your aerobic capacity (fitness level) and muscular endurance.

This will enable you to go through the day with more energy and enthusiasm and you will achieve more because your body is more 'fatigue-resistant'.

3. Maintains, tones, and strengthens your muscles.

This prevents muscle atrophy (wasting), which is considered a typical part of aging. Not only does a toned, strong body look great but it also gives you greater confidence, makes daily physical tasks easier and improves your health.

4. Reduces heart disease risk.

As little as one hour of walking each week can significantly reduce your risk of heart disease risk. The more vigorous the exercise, however, the greater the reduction in heart disease risk. Exactly how exercise reduces heart disease risk is not completely understood. However, there is evidence that exercise has a vasodilating effect on blood vessels (and hence reducing blood pressure) by promoting the production of prostacyclin and nitric oxide.

5. Reduces diabetes risk.

Exercise promotes the uptake of glucose by body cells as well as increasing the sensitivity of cell receptors to insulin. This means there is a reduced risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. For those people who have Type 2 diabetes already, exercise is a great way to control their symptoms and lower their risk of developing serious complications.

6. Improves mental health.

People often say that exercise makes them feel good and there is evidence to suggest that it may even fight clinical depression better than drugs. It probably has this effect by increasing the production of natural opiates in the body (these are endorphins - the 'feel good' hormones).

7. Slows some effects of aging.

People are constantly searching for the 'fountain of youth', and now there is strong evidence to suggest that exercise is part of the answer.

8. Increases the level of HDL (high-density lipoprotein) 'good cholesterol'.

Regular exercise increases the level of HDL in the blood stream, particularly if combined with a sound nutritional plan.

9. Reduces the risk of death from leading causes.

There is an inverse correlation between physical fitness and premature death from leading causes. Finnish researchers reported that poor physical fitness is as serious a risk factor as other well-known causes such as smoking, high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes.

10. Improves sleep patterns.

People who exercise regularly report sleeping more soundly and restfully.

There you have it! The top 10 reasons to exercise. Of course there are dozens of reasons why you should exercise on a regular basis and this is just a sample so make an effort to incorporate exercise into your life and all these benefits can be yours!