The Physical Benefits Of Exercise

According to the CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adults should do at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity exercise, or 75 minutes week of intense aerobic activity. Everyone should try to do at least the recommended amount of weekly exercise. Not exercising can be detrimental to one’s health. Exercising moderately for at least 150 minutes a week or working out intensely for 75 minutes can add, on average, 3.4 years to one’s lifespan, while people who do not exercise have the highest premature death rate. Being active has both mental and physical benefits, adding exercise to your routine can create a happier, healthier lifestyle. Exercise, no matter how strenuous or simple, is an important activity for all people. …show more content…

Not only is walking a simple way to exercise, but it also has a lot of benefits, “The cardiovascular benefits of walking are biologically plausible; like other forms of regular moderate exercise, walking improves cardiac risk factors such as cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, vascular stiffness and inflammation, and mental stress” (Harvard Health.). Despite not breaking the biggest sweat during and after walking, given the benefits, it is obvious that walking is an effective way to exercise. Although walking is minimal and often overlooked as a way to exercise, it can decrease cardiac risk factors and improves mental health due to endorphins released while exercising. Walking is a way to increase heart rate and exercise the heart to make it pump blood more efficiently, which leads to a reduction in heart problems. By fighting obesity, walking also has the ability to create a higher quality of life, more body confidence, and decrease knee and heart problems for overweight people. Walking leisurely for even half an hour for 5 days a week, the recommended 150 minutes, can decrease common health issues and risk factors. Walking has the ability to modify a relatively out of shape person with various health issues into a thriving and well-energized person. Moreover, walking is a nonstrenuous way to exercise to create a healthier and happier …show more content…

Running can improve your mood, as well as physical health, “Running reduces stress by boosting levels of serotonin in your brain and creating a more positive mood. Self-esteem is improved and goals are achieved through running. Runners realize a greater sense of self-reliance and accomplishment… Cardiovascular health is greatly improved through running by increasing your heart rate and working the heart muscles on a regular basis” (RunAddicts). Running is similar to a drug, however without the withdrawal effects. Similar to MDMA (ecstasy), running releases serotonin. After running one feels tired but refreshed and energized due to the serotonin released, which is referred to as the “runner’s high”. This runner’s high, somewhat similar to a drug intoxication, causes a euphoria and creates a positive and energized mood, which temporarily regulates anxiety, improves sleep quality, and constructs a better self-image. As well as being mentally advantageous, running is also physically constructive. Like running and swimming, through working the heart muscles and increasing your heart rate running can also improve endurance and cardiovascular health by allowing the blood to pump more powerfully. Furthermore, running can drastically improve one’s