We all know that exercise is the best way to improve your bodies. Internally and externally, nothing can be more beneficial to the body than regular exercise and fitness. Organ functions improve along with overall health, not to mention the killer body you can get too, but our bodies aren’t the only ones to enjoy the benefits of exercise.
The mind too can see many positives thanks to exercise, giving all the more reasons to start working out! Have a look at the ways in which your mental health can benefit from exercise:
Self-Esteem
It makes perfect sense that someone who spends time working out will feel more comfortable in their body than others. With enough exercise, you can immediately see the results on your body, which in turn can help to improve feelings of self-worth due to the fact you are proud and happy with the body you have worked hard to achieve – or are at least working towards.
In no time at all, your confidence can improve massively, making you a generally happier and more outgoing person. Loving yourself doesn’t come easy for everyone, and exercise can help people become more comfortable with their self-image.
Cognitive Function
Sad as it is to say, the older we all get; the worse are brains are for it. Memories and the like are not quite what they use to be, and with diseases such as Alzheimer’s possible too, there are many risks our brain cells and cognitive functioning could face in later life.
At a certain age, cognitive decline is inevitable, yet the onset can be pushed back through regular exercise. Chemicals that are present in the brain can actually help the mind stay in good condition as you age, and by exercising in your 20s, you can improve their presence in the brain in later life.
That means by the time you hit your 40s, and you have been regularly exercising, you can hold off any decline in functionality in sections of the brain such as the hippocampus – which is directly responsible for the memory.
Addiction
Dopamine is a chemical that our brains release any time we experience feelings of pleasure or joy – this happens when we eat, drink, have sex, and take drugs. Addiction occurs when we become reliant on the substances that provide us with a shot of dopamine, which is why many become addicted to things such as alcohol, drugs and sex. As exercise provides dopamine to the body, it can be a great way to fend of cravings.
Not only that but being occupied with exercise means less focus on the substances that have caused addition, even if only for a short time.
Alcoholics can benefit directly through exercise too. The body’s circadian rhythm is affected by the constant presence of alcohol, meaning they cannot sleep without a drink of some kind. When trying to remain sober, regular exercise can help reset the body’s internal clock, providing a way to maintain a sleeping pattern without the need of alcohol.
