This I Believe

     The health benefits of regular exercise and physical activity are yours for the taking. It can do more than just making you feel better. You can also have more energy and maintain weight loss. The benefits of regular exercise and physical activity can range from boosting your mood to improving your sex life.

     Physical activities are good for people. Exercise can help prevent excess weight gain or help maintain weight loss. When you engage in physical activity you burn calories. The more intense the activity, the more calories you burn. Physical activity creates many brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed. You may also feel better about your looks when you exercise regularly. This can boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem. In addition, your feeling fit and looking better may have a positive effect on your sex life.

     Are you winded by grocery shopping or household chores? Regular physical activity can improve your muscle strength and boost your endurance. Exercise and physical activity deliver oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and help your heart and lungs work more efficiently. When your heart and lungs work more efficiently, you have more energy to go about your daily chores. You also gain health benefits and have more energy to spend some time enjoying the outdoors and connecting with family or friends in a fun social setting.

     Another key to a happy life is eating healthy and in moderation. Eat plenty of vegetables, fruits and drink lots of water. Remember, an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Have enough fiber for the day. This helps to strengthen your muscles and improve your digestion. It is important to avoid mindless eating of to many calories each day. This behavior can even limit the positive effects of exercise on a regular basis.

 All kinds of food can be good for you, but moderation is the key. For example, dark chocolate has alot of powerful antioxidants, way more than most other foods. You can have the benefits of dark chocolate from eating only small amounts of it. Because of dark chocolate’s high fat and sugar content, it is best to limit yourself. As a second example, eating salmon two to three times per week can protect you from problems such as heart attack, stroke, and high blood pressure.

 Another key to a healthy lifestyle is getting plenty of sleep. Regular physical activity can help you fall asleep faster and make your sleep more effective. Sleep is very important to recovering from your exercise. It can also make your skin look healthier.  Be careful not to exercise too close to bedtime as that can keep you awake.