We all know that exercise helps improve your physical stature and keeps blood flowing and fat off the body, but did you know that it offers so much more in terms of health benefits? Not only does regular exercise make the physical body healthier, but it can also have a positive impact on your mental health as well. Here are five surprising benefits of exercise that you may not have been aware of.
1. Mental Clarity
If you've ever suffered from "brain fog" you know that finding any sort of mental clarity is nearly impossible and quite daunting. This brain fog can come about for a number of reasons, including stress, depression, low self-esteem, and more. Without proper mental clarity, everyday life can seem heavy and difficult to navigate; and you can forget about making important decisions.
Exercise improves blood flow throughout the entire body, including the brain. Your brain needs blood and the precious oxygen carried by red blood cells to function properly. The point? Increased blood flow to the brain means better brain function. Not to mention, exercise releases such hormones as dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins. These chemicals are crucial for experiencing clarity, happiness, and a wide range of mental conditions.
2. Improved Focus and Energy Levels
In addition to the invaluable mental clarity you'll get from regular exercise, you'll also find that your focus and energy levels increase as well. The same brain fog that's kept you from seeing things clearly is likely also zapping your energy and focus, furthering the complications related to the problem. Brain fog can be linked to things like depression, and although exercise doesn't cure depression, it's been found to aid in alleviating the symptoms of the condition quite effectively.
Regular exercise helps release important chemicals and keep blood flowing to every part of your body. Sedentary lifestyles have been linked to numerous diseases and conditions, so keeping your body moving becomes something of a necessity in our modern world. Where TV and social media are the new focus of everyone's life, exercise must have a place in your routine for the sake of your physical and mental health.
When you're thinking "what is wrong with me" because you're having brain fog, try going for a run or lifting some weights. Getting your body moving will help clear some of the fog and make you feel better overall.
3. Increased Libido
Exercise increases blood flow to all areas of the body, including those sensitive areas below the belt. It's been found that between the release of endorphins and the increased blood flow that occurs from regular exercise, those who exercise more have an increased libido. If you think about it, it makes perfect sense; the more you work your body, the better blood flow you have, and the happier you'll feel. Happiness and sexual activity are most certainly linked, and exercise can help boost both.
Exercise can also help increase hormones such as testosterone, which could also be responsible for the increased sexual sensitivity following a workout. Whatever the case may be, it's clear that a good workout session before your next sexual encounter can improve the experience for both parties involved.
4. Brain Health and Memory
We've already talked about how the brain can benefit from exercise in a few different ways, but we're going to add one more: overall brain health and memory. Memory is an important skill of the human brain; it allows us to recall the short and long-term and provides us with a sort of mental compass to get us through the day. Short-term memory can be affected by certain mental conditions or a poor diet, and with exercise, can be improved.
According to an article published at Harvard University Medical School, quote:
"Exercise helps memory and thinking through both direct and indirect means. The benefits of exercise come directly from its ability to reduce insulin resistance, reduce inflammation, and stimulate the release of growth factors-chemicals in the brain that affect the health of brain cells, the growth of new blood vessels in the brain, and even the abundance and survival of new brain cells."
It's clear that regular exercise offers nothing but the most positive benefits to the brain and body!
5. Self-Esteem
One of the most important benefits of regular exercise that isn't often discussed is the self-esteem boost it can provide. Exercising and taking care of your body can help you feel much more confident and driven than if you just sat around all day. A sedentary lifestyle can make you feel bad about yourself, but regular exercise can reverse such thinking and give you the confidence you need to excel. You don't have to exercise daily to gain these benefits, but doctors recommend that you engage in physical activity at least a few times per week for around 60 minutes. The more you exercise, the better you'll feel, but remember not to overdo it; especially when you're first getting started.
