5 Surprising Benefits of Regular Exercise
Updated: Jul 12, 2021
We all know that exercise is good for you and you’ve probably heard it’s “healthy for the heart”. However, a regular pattern of exercise has many more benefits than we may have realised...
Sharper Memory
Regular physical activity boosts memory and the ability to learn new things. Many studies have suggested that the parts of the brain that control thinking and memory are larger in volume in people who exercise than in people who don't. This applies both to children AND adults. Don’t believe me? Check out this study that looks into how running sprints improved vocabulary retention among healthy adults.
Get More Done
Feeling uninspired and it’s not even noon? The solution might just be a short walk or a jog away! Research shows that workers who take time for exercise on a regular basis are more productive and have more energy than their more sedentary peers.
Boost Immunity
Regular exercise can reduce your risk of certain serious health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. It can also decrease your chances of developing and getting stuck with more common illnesses, such as flu and colds.
Improve Sleep Quality
Exercise can contribute to more sound and restful sleep. Physical activity increases time spent in deep sleep, which is the most physically restorative sleep phase. In addition to improving the quality of sleep, exercise also can help you increase the duration of your snoozes. Being physically active requires you to spend energy, and helps you feel more tired and ready to rest at the end of the day.
Boost Energy
How can this be possible? Well... During vigorous exercise, oxygen gets delivered to tissues and organs. This helps the heart work more efficiently as well as the lungs. A more efficient heart and lungs translate to more energy!