host posted on May 08, 2009 13:12
Exercise is important to everyone. No matter your age or gender, exercise is essential to a healthy body and mind. Since enjoying a long life span is ideal, you must focus on a healthy life style. Exercising, along with what we put into our bodies, is key to getting the most out of life. There are endless reasons why exercise benefits us.
Women who exercise reduce their risk of developing numerous diseases such as cardio vascular disease, heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, osteoporosis, and some forms of cancers, as well as expanding their life span. It has been documented that exercising regularly reduces premature death by 25%. Obesity is a major factor of heart disease. Exercising is key to a healthy heart. It reduces risk of heart attack by about 50%. Hot flashes are very common among women experiencing menopause. Women who exercise experience less hot flashes because of the body releasing endorphins that counteract hormonal imbalances that produce hormonal symptoms.
As women age, their bone density decreases. It is during menopause when a dramatic drop in estrogen takes place which leads to bone loss. This is called osteoporosis. Exercise increases bone density. During menopause, hormone levels change leading to weight gain and increase in fat. During perimenopause, women tend to gain 10-12 lbs. Exercise increases your metabolic rate so that, even when you are at rest, you burn more calories. After menopause, the risk of heart disease increases. Exercise lowers blood pressure which reduces risk of heart disease.
Exercising reduces stress, anxiety, and depression. When a person runs, swims, cycles and performs any other strenuous exercise, the pituitary gland releases endorphins which are chemicals that release feelings of euphoria. You can boost your self esteem and lighten your mood from the release of endorphins and from the benefits of regular cardiovascular exercise. Exercise helps us think more clearly as it improves our short-term memory. Retaining information becomes easier and learning new task become quicker. Also, as a person ages, their sleep patterns can become irregular. Exercise can help this as well.
As we age, our body’s healing process slows down. Exercising can be an anti-inflammatory. It reduces muscle and joint pain. It speeds up the healing process of the body. Exercising strengthens the immune system reducing the chances of getting sick, such as colds.
Some may say there is no time for exercise. All you need is a minimum of 30 min 3 times a week of physical activity that elevates the heart rate. This could simply be done by walking laps around the house or running in place. Exercise does not mean spending hours in the gym doing a vigorous workout. The important idea is to elevate the heart rate. There are endless benefits to exercise and I strongly recommend it for you so that you are able to enjoy a healthy, long lived life.
Alan Pollard