We all realize the positive impact regular exercise has on our bodies; however, a good workout also brings unexpected benefits to mind too.
Here are a few of the slightly more unexpected beneficial effects of exercising regularly.
Exercise has proven links to slowing the aging process
Joining a gymnasium or sports club is the easiest way to engage in exercise. The Club Fitness Facilities on offer will have you participating in all forms of aerobic and anaerobic exercise, bringing tremendous benefits to your mind and body.
Scientists have long suspected regular exercise helps slow aging but until very recently, no one was quite able to prove exactly how or why. The latest cutting-edge research reported in Preventative Medicine has discovered a direct link between exercise and a reduction in cellular aging.
The natural aging process of our bodies shortens our telomeres – a type of nucleoprotein contained at the end of our chromosomes. Through testing, scientists have proven that regular exercise reduces this shortening process. Active people have been found to have significantly longer telomeres than less active, sedentary individuals. Indeed, the longer telomeres discovered in the active population had, in some cases, evidence of as much as nine years of delayed aging of the cells.
Exercising can help you grow new brain cells and improve learning
For many years, scientists believed that the brain was the only organ of the body that could not grow new cells. However, recent research has found that our brains can develop new neurons through a process known as neurogenesis.
The area of the brain most adept at neurogenesis appears to be the hippocampus – the portion responsible for our learning capacity and memory functions. The hippocampus has also been identified as being smaller in patients suffering from depression and dementia.
Studies have shown that aerobic exercise is one of the best ways to stimulate neurogenesis and the growth of new neurons. So, exercise doesn’t just make your body fitter – it also makes your mind fitter and can improve memory and learning capabilities.
Pair exercise with some good supplements, such as the Dermal Repair Complex and you’ll find a newer, fresher, more youthful you.
Regular exercise helps you sleep better
Exercise takes exertion, but it can also help you sleep better. A tired mind and body are more likely to fall asleep quicker – and sleep longer and more soundly without stirring. Taking regular exercise is widely regarded as having a positive impact on sleep patterns.
The positive effects of exercise on depression
Exercise stimulates the production of serotonin, the body’s natural mood stabilizer and the same chemical targeted by anti-depressant drugs. Indeed, in some cases of depression, exercise has been proven to have at least an equal effect in treatment as prescription anti-depressants. Moreover, regular exercise isn’t just useful for treating depression – it can also help prevent it through the same process.
Exercise significantly reduces the risk of developing dementia
Our brains naturally shrink through aging; however, regular exercise has been proven to increase brain volume and improve the strength of brain nerve impulses. As mentioned above, exercise also benefits the hippocampus – an area of the brain that shrinks in dementia patients.
With an aging population, dementia is a growing problem globally. However, regular exercise can dramatically reduce your risk of developing these debilitating diseases.
