Dr. Aaron's Blog

The benefits of exercise.

October 19, 2014 All by Aaron Van Gaver

 

As we have all heard many times before, “Exercise is Good for your Health” and the phrase “Use it or lose it” and these are both very true when it comes to exercise.

Regular exercise or physical activity is very important for not only physical health, but also mental health. 

When we talk about exercise, it doesn’t mean that you have to be an all-star athlete and train hours and hours each day. Exercise can be as simple as going for a 15-20 minute brisk walk each day, or riding your bike. 

Exercise is about getting the blood and body moving, as well as keeping the heart strong so you can live a long and healthy life.

There is billions of dollars spent every year on treating medical conditions caused by unhealthy lifestyle and lack of exercise. Some of these conditions include obesity, heart disease, diabetes and other chronic conditions. Many of these life-threatening conditions can be reduced if not eliminated by setting aside 20-30 minutes a day to exercise.

Some benefits to exercise, besides helping your body feel much better, and helping relieve stress are:

  • Improving your chances of living longer and healthier
  • Losing weight
  • Preventing heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes
  • Preventing bone loss in osteoporosis
  • Relieving depression and anxiety as well as improving mood

Some quick exercise ideas that don’t take much time are:

  • A brisk walk around your neighbourhood
  • A bike ride on the weekend with your family
  • Swimming
  • Dancing
  • Gardening/ Mowing the lawn
  • Running
  • Going to the gym
  • Skipping
  • Rowing

Check out this article to learn more about the benefits of exercise and staying healthy!

Staying Active