What Exercise Does to Your Body and State of Mind

We all know that exercise is healthy. And everybody wants to look and feel healthier, be more fit, and have more energy. But most people don’t fully know what exercise does to the body and mind that makes it so beneficial. Here is a breakdown on just that, with three things that exercise does to your body to benefit your health.

Sharpens Your Mind

You may know that exercise benefits your mood through the release of endorphins, but did you know exercise actually gives your brain a boost in cognition? Cardiovascular exercise appears to promote neurogenesis—the process by which your brain creates new brain cells—which leads to improvement in brain performance. Some studies also indicate that exercise can make you more creative and provide you more mental energy to use. So, if you are feeling stuck mentally, a jog may be just the solution to get your brain chugging along again.

Releases Endorphins

Exercise is one of the best natural mood boosters out there. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins, which are known as the “feel good” chemical. Endorphins can relieve pain and make you feel happy. Endorphins can have such a large impact on mental health, many health providers will recommend regular exercise for anxiety and depression before prescribing medication to treat them. If you are looking for a little mood booster to help you through the day, then maybe something as simple as 30 minutes of exercise every day could have a major impact on you and your mental health.

Protects You Against Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular exercise is essential to promoting cardiovascular health now and in the long term. Exercise helps to reduce blood pressure, control your weight, lower stress, and reduce inflammation, all of which can help reduce your risk of diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. Exercise helps your body use the energy you consume in food and strengthen your lungs and heart to better circulate blood and oxygen around your body. This can help promote your cardiovascular health for the long term, helping you avoid disease and age gracefully.

Exercise has huge benefits to both mind and body. Everything from mood, to cognitive ability, to cardiovascular health are directly impacted by exercise. So, get out there and get moving, your body will be glad you did.

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