Have you ever wondered what happens when you exercise every day? Or what you may be doing to your body by not exercising at all or very little? You may be surprised by just how much exercise or the lack of exercise can impact your overall health, immune system, and mental health. Let’s explore that…
The body is an amazing thing! It’s a series of organs and complex systems that work in unison to provide you with the energy, health, and immune system to live and create your life. But the human body does require the human element of “action” to survive. It needs to be fed, it needs rest, and it needs Exercise!
When you exercise every day, you are doing amazing things for your physical well-being and your mental well-being! The benefits are endless and go way past just weight loss. It’s no secret that when your heart, legs, and lungs get pumping you feel much better than if you did nothing, however, what is even better is what’s happening in your Noggin aka Brain! When you’re forced to pull more oxygen into the body through exercise you break what’s called “the blood-brain barrier.”
Science is SO Cool!
You know how you feel during a hard workout when your heart rate is high, or when you’re on vacation and climbing to the top of that mountain on a hike? This oxygen-filled blood makes its way into the temporal lobe of the brain. Inside the temporal lobe is an area called the Hippocampus. Inside the Hippocampus lies this seahorse-shaped area known as the Dentate Gyrus. As you exercise these oxygen-filled blood cells rush into this area of the brain. A protein-like chemical called IGF-1 is created, and then let go inside the brain in the Dentate Gyrus area of the hippocampus. Think of it as a direct flow of grass seed for your Brain! Imagine the growth possibilities of this grass seed over time when you exercise every day!
From Seniors right down to young kids and athletes, studies show that high-intensity workouts (better known as HIIT) will cause the release of these important and very much-needed chemicals into the Melon! Combine this with even more “brain drugs” like dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine and you’ve got yourself a feel-good party in your head. These chemicals help you chill out, handle pressure and everyday stress, and help you sleep like a baby! This rush of goodness is better than any need to ever do unnatural drugs to help you focus! Yeah you know those damn prescriptions we take and give our kids to focus…
Our Kids Need to Get Outside Like We Used To!
Children who play outdoors with friends score better on tests than kids who don’t. Regular physical activity improves memory, mood, and problem-solving abilities. Consistent exercise raises self-esteem and decreases anxiety. Study after study has proven that people who exercise 5 to 6 days a week greatly decrease their need for prescribed drugs to deal with life! These are all amazing benefits of what happens when you exercise every day and make moving 30-45 mins a day a part of your routine!
Looking for the Fountain of Youth? Exercising is it!
The point is to not go without exercising and feeding your brain these “natural trips” of feel-good drugs! If you do, those important parts of the brain will shrivel up and die! This leads to a greater risk for diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Dementia if you need more incentive to get moving! If you’re looking for the fountain of youth, you can find it inside your head every time you exercise for more than 30 minutes, as it can help produce brand-new cells that assist in the reversal of aging.
Bonus Round! 3 More Amazing Effects When You Exercise Every Day?
They say that exercise can help the immune system find and deal with illness by heading it off at the pass early on, and in the long term, regular exercise slows down changes that happen to the immune system with aging, therefore reducing the risk of infections. It’s quite amazing to think that by pushing yourself every day to get your heart rate up and move for 30-45 mins a day you give your body an extra edge in fighting off bugs, viruses, and even disease! A stronger immune system is literally what happens when you exercise every day.
If that wasn’t good enough, how about a healthier heart and lungs? Regular physical activity can improve your muscle strength and boost your endurance. Exercise delivers oxygen and nutrients to your tissue and helps your cardiovascular system work more efficiently, and when your heart and lung health improve, you have more energy to tackle daily chores.
What if I told you regular exercise also helps with your sex life? Would you put more priority on it then? Regular physical activity can improve energy levels and increase your confidence in your physical appearance, which may boost your sex life. But there’s even more to it than that. Regular physical activity also helps your libido and attraction to the opposite sex, and dudes who exercise regularly are less likely to have problems with erectile dysfunction than men who don’t exercise. Sign me up for that spinning class eh?
Ready, Set, Go….Let’s Exercise people… Exercise! Work out your Bod and the Brain! This is what happens when you exercise Every day!
Check out our article The Hidden Benefits of Exercise for more information on why getting exercise every day is so important and our article The Convenient Home Fitness Option for some suggestions on ways of getting started.
You can also check out the video Exercise Your Way to a Better Life – Unlock the Benefits of Exercise on our YouTube Channel to see just how amazing exercise can be in your life!
#Fitness #Brain #Health #Wellness
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