The Importance and Benefits of Exercise

By Uma Ganesan

(Mrs. Uma Ganesan is a Nurse Practitioner working in Dallas, Texas, US. She has over 25 years of experience in the field of healthcare.  Her enthusiasm to learn more and keep herself up to date with the advances in medicine has earned her two masters degrees after marriage. She is a voracious reader and is fluent in over 6 languages.)

We have all heard and read about the importance of regular exercise in our daily lives. Regular exercise helps our physical and mental health along with preventing illnesses and maintaining a healthy body weight. Exercise can be planned to suit one’s lifestyle. It can range from simple methods such as walking, taking the stairs etc to intense activities like, running, circuit training or weight lifting.

Exercise can help prevent excess weight gain or help maintain weight loss. When you engage in physical activity, you burn calories. The more intense the activity, the more calories you burn. You don't need to set aside large chunks of time for exercise to reap weight-loss benefits. Regular exercise helps with increasing the good cholesterol in the blood thereby keeps the blood flowing smoothly in the arteries improving circulation. In fact, regular physical activity can help you prevent or manage a wide range of health problems and concerns, including stroke, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, depression, and certain types of cancer, arthritis and falls.

Studies show that a good workout helps to  improve one’s mood by boosting the secretion of endorphins. Physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed. You may also feel better about your appearance and yourself when you exercise regularly, which can boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem. Regular physical activity can improve your muscle strength and boost your endurance. Exercise and physical activity deliver oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and help your cardiovascular system work more efficiently. Daily exercise can be done in divided installments in a day or for 30 – 45 minutes in a day for at least 5 days a week for weight maintenance and weight control.

The benefits of exercise can only be reaped when coupled with adequate nutrition and sufficient water intake. Some healthy eating options include whole grain cereals, plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables and low fat foods. Drinking at least 8- 10 glasses of water a day will assist with flushing away the toxins from the body and carries nutrients to your cells and provides a moist environment for ear, nose and throat tissues.

So get those muscles into action to enjoy a life of fun, love and service.

Health tips:

• Short spans of boosted work out is more effective than burning calories
• Water is the manna that will help you to flush out unwanted toxins
• Eat like a bird: Smaller, lighter and frequent meals are better than one large portion