Regular exercise has lasting benefits. Exercise does not have to be strenuous and difficult. In fact, a few minutes of exercise each day can do wonders. Regular exercise can make a person look and feel healthier and less likely to develop certain diseases. Exercise has many health benefits.
Strengthening your heart
When the heart is challenged regularly, it becomes stronger and healthier. Regular exercise may even help prevent heart disease, which is one of the main causes of death. To work with a Personal Trainer Cheltenham, contact Inside Sweat.
Keeps veins and arteries in good condition
Regular exercise can help reduce harmful cholesterol and fat levels in the blood. It can help lower blood pressure, and reduce the risk of a stroke or heart attack.
Makes lungs stronger
Regular exercise helps your lungs work more efficiently, improving how well your body absorbs oxygen and removes carbon dioxide. Exercise helps to maintain oxygen levels as we age and become less active.
Weight control
It’s easy to consume more calories when we sit down, and unused calories are stored as fat. Exercise helps to create a calorie deficit, which burns fat and lowers overall weight. Losing excess weight is good for your heart and can also help people with diabetes. Contact a Personal Trainer Cheltenham today.
Lowers blood sugar levels
Regular exercise encourages muscles to absorb glucose and convert it to energy. This reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Bone strengthening
As with muscles, bones become stronger through regular exercise. Regular physical activity can help you achieve a higher bone density. Bone mass usually starts to decrease gradually from around our 30s. The higher a person’s bone density, the less likely they are to develop osteoporosis.
Related: Four Types of Exercise that are Beneficial in Retirement
Gentle activities that suit later life
The benefits of exercise matter just as much after retirement, when staying fit and mobile helps you make the most of your free time. As well as helping to prevent heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes, exercise is good for mental wellbeing, because the brain releases feel-good hormones when we are active.
Swimming works all the muscles without putting much pressure on the joints, so it suits people with joint pain. Water exercise classes such as aqua aerobics are another option. Walking is excellent for the heart and the mind, and a walk in the countryside brings some welcome peace and quiet.
Yoga helps with mobility and posture, and its breathing techniques can help you stay calm when feeling anxious. Team sports are a good way to keep fit and make new friends at the same time.
Walking as an easy way to start
For anyone wanting these benefits without joining a gym, walking is one of the easiest and most accessible forms of exercise. Regular brisk walking can lower the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and some cancers, and helps with weight, bone and muscle strength and mood. The NHS recommends that adults do at least 150 minutes of moderate activity a week, and brisk walking counts towards it.
If you are new to exercise, start with short walks and build up gradually. Even ten minutes at a time helps. Aim to walk fast enough to breathe a little harder and feel warmer while still being able to hold a conversation.
Building walks into everyday life makes them a habit, such as walking to the shops or getting off the bus a stop early. A friend or walking group helps keep you motivated. Wear comfortable shoes, dress for the weather and, if walking alone in the countryside, tell someone where you are going.