An active lifestyle – 10 benefits of physical activity
Sports activities are essential for the health of body and mind. We present you with the benefits of an active lifestyle that will convince you too!
It has long been known that an active lifestyle has a positive effect on your physical and mental well-being. It is not important to push yourself to your physical limits and really exhaust yourself. No, it is enough to regularly plan time for exercise (… and of course to do it). To make it easier for you to make exercise a routine, here are 10 advantages of an active lifestyle for you. That’s motivating!
Physical Activity: 10 Valuable Benefits for a Better Life
1. Reduces health risks
An active lifestyle can help you reduce the risk of certain diseases. For example, the risk of diabetes is significantly reduced. Heart and circulatory problems can also be reduced.
2. Good for the brain
Psychiatrists and psychologists have long been advising people to exercise to prevent and treat depression. Physical activity does indeed have a positive effect on the brain. It releases hormones that activate the growth of brain cells. Blood flow to the brain is also optimized. As more oxygen reaches the brain, the hippocampus grows and memory performance improves. It is also worth noting that exercise slows down brain aging and reduces the risk of degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and mental disorders.
3. Helps you achieve a stable, comfortable weight
There is no healthy weight loss without exercise – that is the motto of experts. If physical activity is part of everyday life, body weight can be reduced and the desired weight can be maintained more easily. This is not only due to increased calorie consumption, but also to a more active metabolism. Goodbye, yo-yo effect!
4. Keeps bones and muscles healthy
With regular training, you strengthen your muscles and bones. An active musculoskeletal system with its muscles, tendons and fascia, in turn, improves balance. This makes your body more stable and reduces the tendency to injury. If your muscles are strengthened, activities such as climbing stairs, carrying heavy shopping bags and even playing with the children are easier. Anyone who fears that active muscle building could soon make them look like Arnold Schwarzenegger in his prime is mistaken. A bodybuilder’s physique requires more than just regular strength training.
5. Reduces (some) physical pain
Chronic back pain and similar problems can often be reduced through targeted physical exercise. It is best to ask your physiotherapist beforehand so that you can do the right exercises at home or outdoors. It is important not to make the symptoms worse through exercise. This is another reason why it is essential to discuss the type of training with an expert.
6. Increases performance
An active lifestyle gives you energy. It combats fatigue, which many people struggle with. At the same time, the energy boost improves your ability to concentrate, which means you can achieve more and feel better.
7. Puts a smile on your face
Physical activity not only gives you a boost of energy, it also improves your mood. When you exercise, your body releases more endorphins, which create positive feelings and make negative moods disappear. Smiling frequently can also help to counteract anxiety.
8. Keeps the skin young
Everyone is affected by natural skin aging. It cannot be stopped completely, but it can be slowed down. Exercise is helpful because the movement makes the skin look younger and fresher. At the same time, the production of antioxidants is activated. These in turn protect against cell damage in the skin. Exercise also stimulates blood circulation. This in turn improves skin health and therefore your complexion – without any cosmetics or plastic surgery.
9. Improves sleep quality
Many people suffer from sleep disorders. They have a significant impact on their quality of life. Exercise is a proven remedy for insomnia. It also promotes continuous, healthy sleep, which has a positive effect on the body and mind. Who likes the dark thoughts that torment us, especially at night? Simply sleep through them thanks to exercise.
10. Increases desire
Regular exercise has a direct effect on libido. This is because exercise promotes flexibility and blood circulation. This benefits desire and sexual performance. Some urologists recommend exercise to older men to alleviate the signs of erectile dysfunction.
Time for Movement
If you want to live a healthy and happy life, you can’t avoid physical activity. Set aside a few hours each week to exercise. Whether it’s Zumba, cycling or football: anything that’s active and fun is good for your health. If you rarely find time to exercise in your everyday life, then try to incorporate exercise into your life every day. You can always take the stairs instead of the elevator, cycle all short distances and do 15-minute morning and evening exercises. There’s always a way to get a bit of activity. You just have to want it.