Balance Your Mind and Body at the Gym
We all want to look and feel our best. After a long days work, the gym may seem like the last place you want to visit. People don’t join gyms to just burn calories. There are many other advantages to joining a health and fitness club.
It is common knowledge that exercise has a positive effect on the brain. Exercise is now being recognised as an element in maintaining mental fitness. After thrashing out 40 minutes on the treadmill, or finishing a gruelling spinning session, endorphins are released in the brain.
These endorphins cause us to feel a “natural high” or “runners high” as it is sometimes known. You may have felt it, but not have known what caused it.
With any vigorous exercise that gets the heart pumping faster, there is always that moment when the pain suffered from the workout, leaves your body and is replaced with a sense of euphoria.
Physical activity is becoming a way of helping treat those with depression and anxiety. Exercise alone is not a cure, but the positive impacts are well worth your monthly gym subscription. Therapists have reported that patients who take part in regular exercise feel better, and are far less likely to overeat or abuse drugs and alcohol.
Exercise can reduce anxiety. People who exercise report feeling less stressed at work. Just five minutes of walking can be enough to reduce the level of anxiety in your body.
The physical benefits of exercise go beyond looking toned and defined. Exercise can reduce your risk of heart disease and strokes. Cardiovascular disease is the biggest cause of illness and death in the United Kingdom. Those who are inactive, have double the risk of dying from heart disease compared to those who are active.
Another common problem in the UK is high blood pressure (hypertension). If you have high blood pressure, the chances of you having a heart attack or stroke are dramatically increased. Half of all people aged between 65 and 74 have it- but have no symptoms. Exercise can help prevent high blood pressure, and reduce it if yours is already too high.
Cholesterol is another problem in Britain. There are two types of cholesterol – low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). LDL cholesterol is often referred to as “bad” cholesterol, and HDL is sometimes called “good” cholesterol. High levels of LDL combined with low levels of HDL increase the risk of heart disease. Studies have proved that regular exercise increases the level of HDL.
Exercise can also help promote healthy blood sugar levels. Type 2 diabetes is developed by at least one in 10 people, causing an increase in blood sugar levels. If your blood sugar levels are not controlled, it can lead to damage of your eyes, nerves, kidneys and arteries.
Osteoarthritis is the most common joint problem, and affects almost all people over the age of 60. Regular moderate activity reduces the chances of being diagnosed with osteoarthritis.
Taking up regular exercise improves your physical and mental health. Although it may be cheaper to run the streets, taking out a membership at a health and fitness club, allows you to gain expert advice from professionals. A workout can be constructed to fit your specific needs, and guarantee that “natural high” we all crave.
"Balance Your Mind and Body at the Gym", was submitted 01/27/2012 under category Wellness and Diet.
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