Health Fitness Tips and Advice

Health Fitness

Fit people are happier, according to a recent study. This is not because they look better or are stronger, but because exercise has an actual, direct influence on serotonin, the feel-good hormone. It seems that when it comes to happiness, people who are healthy and active have a much better chance of getting through life intact, despite all the obstacles.

Not convinced yet? Here some interesting facts:

Mark Dombeck, Ph.D., a frequent contributor to MentalHelp.net, emphasizes that “vigorous regular exercise is a pretty good anti-depressant.” In fact, a study at the University of Texas at Austin showed that people who exercise regularly (as little as 30 minutes 3 times a week) are 60 percent less likely to ever need antidepressants. Walking (either on a treadmill or in the mountains) ranked number one as the most beneficial physical activity, maybe because of how easy and pressure-free it is.

Regular exercise keeps cortisol (the stress hormone) under control. High levels of stress can be responsible for a myriad of medical conditions, including headaches, skin rashes, asthma, high blood pressure, heart disease, and depression.

Exercise also helps the body release endorphins, natural substances that can dull pain and create a feeling of pleasure and overall well-being.

A study released by the Mayo Clinic shows that regular exercise can help dull chronic pain, even in the case of severe pain that doesn’t seem to respond well to medication. This is in part due to the effect of endorphins in the body and in part due to the overall feeling of health that being active produces.

A sedentary lifestyle eventually leads to muscle weakness. Since the heart is a muscle, this could potentially mean heart disease, high blood pressure, and other related ailments.

People who exercise usually sleep better. This in turn can keep you healthier, as lack of sleep can lead to weight gain, hormonal unbalance, diabetes (being tired affects how your body processes blood sugar), and heart disease.
Regular exercise improves flexibility, even if you’re not doing any specific stretching exercises. The more flexible you are the less chance you will pull a muscle or a tendon when playing sports or exercising at the gym. Also, flexibility is key for people with joint problems, as it helps deal with the pain and stiffness.
A regular workout (especially strength and resistance exercises) can help prevent osteoporosis. As muscles grow and develop, they exert a pull on the surrounding bone, encouraging growth. At a young age, exercise will actively build bone. After 35, it will help maintain bone density.

Active families are happier, or so the experts believe. Kids who play soccer with their dads or go biking with their moms are less likely to close up and isolate themselves from their families. They are also less likely to become obese later in life, less likely to smoke, and less likely to more likely to keep up an active lifestyle.

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