The Surprising Benefits of Exercise: Part 2
Ten Surprising Benefits of Exercise: Part 2
Did you know that your blood pressure increases during aerobic exercise, but when you finish, your blood pressure drops to a lower level than before you started? Surprise!
In April, we discussed how exercise can help you live longer and healthier. Here are five more ways that working out and staying fit improves your health — including benefits that may surprise you. TruLabs PRE workout and HYDRATE drink mixes can help you reach your fitness goals and get healthy.
Get Happy, Find Joy
Many athletes would agree that playing sports or running in the park makes them happy. But is this just a momentary thrill?
According to Harvard Health, the runner’s “high” you get from exercise produces neurotransmitters that build positive feelings. These happy hormones — dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins — can lift your mood during your workout and linger for the rest of the day.
In addition, knowing you can run 5 miles or bench press 175 pounds gives you greater self-confidence that will spread to other areas of your life.
In fact, a study of men with low-risk prostate cancer found that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) reduced their anxiety while undergoing a wait-and-see approach to slow-growing cancers. They said HIIT made them feel as if they were doing something positive to fight their cancer.
Work Out to Sleep Well
New evidence shows that even 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise a day increases the amount of slow-wave sleep you get that same night. Slow-wave is the deep sleep period when your brain and body rejuvenate.
“Exercise can also help to stabilize your mood and decompress the mind, a cognitive process that is important for naturally transitioning to sleep,” said Charlene Gamaldo, MD, medical director of Johns Hopkins Center for Sleep at Howard County General Hospital.
But pay attention to when you exercise. An evening session could signal your body clock that it’s time to be awake. PRE Caffeine Free is great for people who don’t want added caffeine to keep them up at night. TruLabs SLEEP may also help you get a better night’s rest.
Goodbye to dry eyes
Don’t blink. You’ll miss the news that exercise could increase your eye comfort.
You count on healthy tear film to keep your eyes moist and protect them again irritating dust and dirt that causes itching and burning.
A study reported by Harvard Health compared 52 adults, both athletes who exercised five times a week, and non-athletes. While everyone saw greater tear production after monitored exercise sessions, those who worked out on a regular basis had more stable tear film and greater benefits.
Protecting Digestive Health
Like many other organs, your digestive system is more efficient when digestive tract muscles are kept in good shape through exercise. But watch the timing. Gastroenterologists suggest waiting two or three hours to digest a large meal before you work out.
And keep hydrated since dehydration is one of the leading causes of exercise-related gastrointestinal problems. Some runners experience diarrhea, which can result from the physical impacts and lack of blood in the intestines. If this affects you, talk to your doctor about ways to avoid this condition.
Build Up your Immune System
Some medical research is looking at the effects of regular exercise on the makeup and function of the immune system and a way to stay free from viral and bacterial infections.
Exercise produces an immediate, temporary decline in immune competency. Long term, it may also improve immune surveillance, which enhances your ability to resist infections.
So get to the trail, the gym, or the pool. Exercise is good for your health.
Sources
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/exercising-for-better-sleep
https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/can-a-little-bit-of-exercise-lower-your-depression-risk
https://www.health.harvard.edu/exercise-and-fitness/working-out-your-brain
