20 Amazing Benefits Of Physical Exercises For A Healthy Life

Staying active is ideal for keeping health issues at bay. There are many benefits of physical exercise. It can help reduce the risk of a plethora of diseases (1), (2), (3). For people aged between 6 and 65, the WHO recommends one to three hours of exercise per week to maintain physical fitness (4). Even 15 to 30 minutes of brisk walking, running, dancing, playing a sport, or strength training every day helps improve heart rate, muscle strength, immunity, and overall mental wellbeing (5). Check out the full list of the benefits of physical exercise here.

Workout Blueprint: Physical Exercises For A Healthy Life

• Frequency: Daily
• Benefits: Reduce the risk of cardiovascular mortality and other health diseases, aid weight loss, strengthen muscles and bones, lower high blood pressure, and reduce stress
• Equipment Needed: Yoga mat, resistance bands, shoes, and workout clothes
• Space Required: Large area
• Assistance Required: Yes, for certain exercises
• Who Should Avoid: Anyone with an existing respiratory issue, joint problem, or heart condition.

20 Benefits Of Exercise

1. Protects You From Cardiovascular Disease

It is not breaking news that cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death. And that’s unfortunate. According to the American Heart Association, by 2030, cardiovascular disease is going to account for more than 23.6 million deaths (6). But scientists from around the globe agree that the mortality rate due to CVD can be reduced by regular exercising (7).

Improving your cardiovascular endurance can help assist you in carrying out your day-to-day tasks without the heaviness and fatigue that might plague you.

2. Aids Weight Loss

Physical exercise, coupled with proper nutrition, is the best way to lose weight (8). If you are borderline overweight, overweight, or obese, you must start exercising. It will help you shed the extra pounds by converting the excess calories into usable energy, which you need to breathe, talk, walk, exercise, and carry out various cellular functions. Weight management helps ward off many obesity-related diseases. By losing weight, you will be able to ward off many obesity-related diseases.

Did You Know?

According to the National Weight Control Registry in the US, about 90% of their registry entrants used a combination of both exercise and diet to either lose weight or maintain weight loss (9).

3. Reduces The Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes

Insulin resistance is when the body no longer responds to insulin. It causes an increased production of insulin by the pancreas. Since insulin promotes weight gain, an excessive amount of insulin production can lead to weight gain. Being overweight or obese increases your risk of insulin resistance. And that may lead to diabetes. Scientists have confirmed that regular physical exercise can reduce the risk of diabetes by 58% in high-risk population (10).

4. Strengthens Muscles And Bones

The health of your muscles and bones is very important. As you start aging, typically after 30 years, you start losing muscle mass and bone density. And that’s the reason many women above 30 suffer from loose skin, joint pain, and osteoporosis. Research reveals that strength training improves the mineral density of the bones, thereby protecting you from osteoporosis (11). In fact, strength training also helps improve muscle mass, muscle power, and muscle endurance (12).

5. Reduces Stress

The importance of exercise is not just limited to your physical health. It can even help if you are stressed. Stress not only hampers your sleep at night but also impairs your immune functions (13). Stress also leads to excess accumulation of harmful oxygen radicals in the body, which, in turn, leads to other diseases (14). Physical activity is highly beneficial in reducing stress. Whenever you feel stressed out, take a walk or run, and you will soon see a change in your mood.

Keerthana Cheluvaraj, a software engineer and yoga practitioner, shares her experience of taking up yoga again on her blog: “I thought I don’t have time for yoga and exercise and that I just have to work. But, as I restarted it, I realized it just increased my productivity and my mental health. I learned to handle work stress (i).”

6. Effective Treatment For Depression And Anxiety

Depression and anxiety are serious mental health issues, and you should not ignore them. Apart from taking medical advice, you must start exercising. Exercise helps release serotonin, the “feel good” hormone that helps uplift your mood and works as the best anxiety reduction and depression management pill. Norwegian scientists conducted an experiment with 977 patients and found that physical exercise improved the mood of depressed patients (15). Incorporating specific exercises for stress and anxiety, such as yoga, running, or even brisk walking, can further enhance these benefits and support your mental health journey.

7. Lowers High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure can lead to heart attack, stroke, and even death. And it is mainly caused due to bad eating habits, a sedentary lifestyleⁱ  Inactive lifestyle with little to no physical activity and prolonged hours of remaining in a stationary position. , and/or inherited genes. If you suffer from hypertension or high blood pressure, you must take care of your diet and start exercising. Scientists studied about 800 people with high blood pressure for six months and found that exercising for 30 to 60 minutes, 3 to 7 days a week helped lower systolic blood pressure (16).

8. Reduces Risk Of Cancer

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death. It is caused due to faulty genes synthesizing faulty proteins, leading to uncontrollable cell division. It becomes dangerous when the cells metastasizeⁱ  It refers to a particular disease spreading from one part of the body to another via blood or lymph vessels. and affect other body parts. Regular exercising not only helps reduce the risk of cancer but also has a positive effect on people undergoing cancer treatment (17).

9. Improves Digestion

According to a study published in Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, regular physical activity modifies the gut microfloraⁱ  Bacteria and organisms that live inside the intestine and help digest food. Vitamin K and biotin are made by gut microflora. . This helps improve immune function and digestion and positively influences mucosal homeostasisⁱ  A state of steady physical, chemical, and internal conditions maintained by living systems for proper functioning. (18). As a result, your digestion and bowel movement will improve, and this metabolism boost will lead to weight loss and better health.

10. Boosts Brain Function And Memory

Both brain function and memory are influenced by physical exercise and help maintain your brain health. American scientists confirm that aerobic exercise can help prevent age-related brain tissue loss, improve attention span, and enhance the ability to process information quickly (19). Exercise helps improve your cognitive function while keeping your brain active to help you perform better in your daily activities. Memory improvement is an added benefit and helps you retail details that might easily slip out of your mind.

11. Reduces Low Back Pain

Low back pain has affected about 540 million people worldwide . And the only way you can get rid of it is by exercising regularly. Do stretching exercises – they help strengthen the bones and muscles in the lower back. Studies proved that exercise helped about 10-50% of patients suffering from low back pain (20). However, avoid exercises that repeatedly need the lower back to switch from the anterior to the posterior pose.

12. Strengthens The Lungs

Whether you have healthy lungs or suffer from a lung condition, doing moderate exercise for 30 minutes, 5 days a week, can have a positive impact on your lungs. You may feel out of breath, but by exercising regularly, you will be able to train your lungs, heart, and muscles, thereby increasing your stamina over a period (21).

13. Improves Sleep Quality

Exercising sure has some good effects on sleep. It is the best day-time activity that induces good quality sleep. When you sleep, your muscles, bones, and brain get rejuvenated, which allows you to make better decisions the next day. Exercise is the best, safest, and cheapest treatment for insomnia.

14. Increases Flexibility

Exercising improves the flexibility of your bones and muscles. American scientists conducted an experiment on college athletes and found that those who practiced yoga were more flexible than those who didn’t. Exercising can also help older adults improve the range of motion of their muscles and bones (22). Just 30 minutes of exercise, 3-5 days a week, can help older adults improve flexibility and get various health benefits. Incorporating yoga into your routine is a particularly effective way to enhance flexibility. Moreover, there are many other benefits of yoga, including increased balance, focus, and muscle strength, that can help you achieve physical, mental, and spiritual momentum in life.

15. Increase Your Energy Levels

Feeling fatigued and low in energy all the time is the most common problem that we face today. The reasons may range from being overworked to leading a sedentary life. But the only medicine that you can have is regular exercise. Scientists agree that regular exercise has a positive effect on energy levels. In fact, based on my personal experience, physical activity helps improve productivity as well. So, if you are feeling low, you should probably go for a run.

16. Revs Up Your Sex Life

Just like healthy flirting is good for the heart, exercising is good for better sexual intimacy. And this is not only for perfectly healthy individuals but also for women suffering from depression and multiple sclerosis, couples dealing with prostate cancer, and men who have erectile dysfunctionⁱ  A physical or psychological condition that leads to the inability to keep or get an erection firm enough to have sexual intercourse. . Exercising helps improve mood and boosts stamina and heart function. Practice cardio and strength training on alternate days and do yoga every day.

17. Boosts Confidence Level

Whether you are 7 or 70, exercising or being physically active improves your confidence, self-esteem, and self-worth. It stimulates positive energy in your body and has amazing physical and mental health benefits. As mentioned before, exercise helps reduce depression, provides stress relief, helps lose weight, and protects from various health issues – the major reasons for an individual’s low self-worth and confidence.

18. Improves Balance And Posture

Balance and posture are everything when it comes to preventing injuries and muscle pull. Regular exercising can help improve your posture, thereby adding an inch or two to your height. It helps to improve your gait and overall physical appearance and keeps your shoulders relaxed, chest up, and core tight. Exercising also helps older adults by preventing falls (23).

19. Improve Skin Health

Your skin is the largest organ, and while it protects the internal organs from the external environment, it can also be prone to microbial infections and other skin diseases. Since aerobic exercise makes you sweat, a lot of the microbes on the surface of the skin get washed away. It also improves blood circulation, giving your skin the perfect glow and warmth.

20. Increases Your Lifespan

As you can see from the above list, the effects of exercise are highly positive and there is almost nothing that exercising cannot fight or protect you from.

A study was conducted on 726,257 England citizens to assess the frequency of people engaging in moderate- to high-intensity physical exercises and activity. It recorded a 30% dip in physical activities in 2020 as compared to data from 2016–2019. Researchers implied this as a worrisome trend as physical activity is important for the prevention of premature mortality and chronic disease, immunity system, and mental health.

So, it is only logical that your life expectancy will increase when you do not suffer from diseases that can kill you. German scientists reported that exercising reduced the mortality rate by 30-35% and increased life expectancy from 0.4 to 6.9 years (24). The mantra is to live disease-free as long as you live – and that’s what exercising can help you achieve.

These are the 20 health benefits of regular exercise. Now, take a look at the exercise guidelines below.

Physical Activity Guidelines

• Avoid being sedentary.
• Do at least two hours of moderate intensity and one hour of high-intensity workout per week.
• Do strength training to prevent muscle loss and strengthen your bones.
• Play outdoor sports, swim, dance, walk, or run.
• If you have a desk job, get up and walk around every hour. Or get a standing work desk.
• Treat exercise as an enjoyable activity and not a punishment.

Trivia

According to a survey conducted by the US Bureau Of Labour Statistics, walking is the most popular exercise among the US population aged 15 years or older (25) .

Things To Remember

• Talk to your doctor before doing high intensity and resistance training.
• Get a personal trainer if you are a beginner to prevent injuries.
• Wear comfortable clothes and proper shoes.
• Consume a pre-workout meal at least 45-60 minutes before your workout.
• Consume carbs post-workout within the two-hour window.
• Have protein-rich meals.
• Do fewer reps but focus on precision.
• Increase the sets and reps gradually.
• Do not lift heavy weights right on the first day.
• Keep going.

There are certain conditions where you must take your doctor’s opinion before you start exercising. Find them listed below.

See Your Doctor

• If moderate physical activity is causing chest pain
• If you go out of breath too soon
• If you have heart or lung issues
• If you are over 45 years of age
• If you feel dizzy
• If you are pregnant

Infographic: Health Benefits Of Exercise

Many people follow a sedentary lifestyle because of hectic work schedules and not spending enough time outdoors, so they don’t take out enough time to exercise. But finding time for at least moderate exercise regularly offers an array of health benefits. Exercise promotes overall health, from disease prevention to improving skin health.

The infographic below lists the various health benefits of exercise you must know. Check them out!

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

What are 3 social benefits of exercise?

Makes you feel and look confident, improves your image, and makes you fitter for any social responsibilities.

What are the benefits of exercise for students?

Improved focus, concentration, brain power, and creativity enhancement, along with agility, fitness, sports endurance, and longevity are some of the benefits of exercise for students.

What are 5 emotional benefits of exercise?

Helps you destress, relieve anxiety, bond with your workout buddies, gives a sense of accomplishment, and makes you feel good about yourself.

Illustration: Amazing Benefits Of Physical Exercises For A Healthy Life

Image: Dall·E/StyleCraze Design Team

Struggling to exercise daily? From reducing stress levels to boosting your energy, watch this video to discover the numerous benefits of exercising to help you get started on your fitness journey.

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Reviewer Author Editor Fact Checker

Nathan DiazMS, RDN, LD

 

Nathan is a clinical dietitian with 6 years of experience and seeks to improve the health of people through nutrition therapy. He graduated from Florida International University and received his Master's degree in Dietetics and Nutrition.

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Charushila BiswasHealth & Wellness Writer

 

Charushila is an ISSA certified Fitness Nutritionist and a Physical Exercise Therapist. Over a span of 6 years, she has authored more than 400 articles on diet, lifestyle, exercises, healthy food, and fitness equipment. She strives to inform, educate, and motivate her readers via authentic, straightforward, and fact-checked information.

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Ravi Teja Tadimalla is a Co-Editor-in-Chief and a published author. He has been in the digital media field for over a decade. He graduated from SRM University, Chennai, and has a Professional Certificate in Food, Nutrition & Research from Wageningen University.

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Himanshi Mahajan is a Certified Health & Nutrition Life Coach. She has a bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences from Guru Nanak Dev University and two years of experience in writing SEO-based and research-backed content across health and lifestyle genres.

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