We often hear about the physical benefits of exercise—weight loss, which can prevent and even reverse certain diseases, a more toned physique, which can lead to a sense of personal pride and confidence—but the mental and emotional benefits of exercise are often underreported.
The human body is designed to move, and until recent times most people physically labored day in and day out. We have become much more sedentary in the last half century, with much of the workforce sitting for much of the day. Add to that the processed, junk and fast food phenomenon, and obesity and related diseases are at an all-time high. And so are depression, anxiety and other mental health disorders.
Our bodies need more than the elimination of these kinds of foods, however—they need to move, and research shows that there are more benefits to exercise than many of us might have imagined. Exercising has myriad benefits, many that happen as a result of chemicals in the brain that are released during movement, including endorphins (exhilaration), dopamine (pleasure) and serotonin (happiness). Additional benefits include:
- Increased confidence
- Improved memory
- Improved emotional stability
- Improved memory
- Improved body image
- Improved feelings of well-being
- Decreased anger
- Decreased anxiety
- Reduction in headaches
- Reduced stress and tension
A mistake when it comes to exercising is having an all-or-nothing attitude. People are often discouraged when they don’t meet the (often lofty) goals they set for themselves. Whether you’re able to fit in 10 minutes a day or an hour a day, any exercise is better than none at all.
Exercise is not the fix-all solution for health and well-being, however, and it is important that people have regular checkups with their doctor, but people without health insurance are more likely to neglect having checkups. The expert agents at Benefit Packages have been helping people find affordable insurance with reputable carriers like Blue Shield of California for 25 years. Call us today for a quote at 1-800-356-3615, or visit our website.