There is no question that frequent exercising – whether by participating in sports or simply by doing routine physical exercise -- is very important in maintaining a healthy body. Physical exercise is basically any activity that aims to improve and maintain physical fitness and overall health and which may be performed to target specific parts or skills. Exercise, together with the proper diet, is one of the most effective natural means of losing unwanted weight.

Regular physical exercise can boost the body's immune system, and lower the risks associated with the development of obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. It has also been found to optimize a person's mental skills and help in developing positive self-esteem. Lack of exercise, on the other hand, has been linked to the development of several diseases including obesity which produces complications that follows from the lack of physical activities and gaining of too much weight.

Not Turning the Clocks back will give People More Time for Physical Activities

Senior Fellow Emeritus, Mayer Hillman, from the Policy Studies Institute said that one of the factors that promote the prevalence of chronic illnesses is the population’s lack of sufficient physical activities. He recommended that adults must perform at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise and children to have one hour of physical activity per day. Surveys support Hillman's statement, indicating that due to the declining physical fitness of the people in UK, half of the population will be clinically obese by 2050. Hillman also said that despite sufficient education on the importance of exercise in order to prevent obesity, coronary heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and cancer, people are still dedicating less time for exercise and schools are also allocating insufficient time for students to get enough physical exercise.

The research showed that the sunny days of summer typically promote a feeling of happiness, high energy levels and reduced risk of getting ill while the opposite happens during winter. Hillman is a strong proponent of changing the habit of turning the clock back during Daylight Saving Time. Two studies from the Institute enumerated the benefits of and advantages of changing the DST habit. He said that the benefits of having more daytime hours have been highly overseen and suggested that it’s about time that people take advantage of the increased opportunities of doing outdoor physical activities by having more daylight hours.

The Benefits of Exercise

Time and time again, the benefits of exercise have been laid out, albeit emphatically. Despite this, people have chosen to remain lax about it. Here, again, are more reasons why exercise is good for you:

Exercise Improves Your Mood

A stressful day at work may mean finding a way to get the tension off your mind and body, and the best way of doing it is by sweating it all out. Spending at least an hour in the gym after work can help ease the tension brought about a long, hard day -- as long as it’s modulated and not excessively vigorous. Remember that exercising can also act as a stressor if performed wrongly. Walking can also help ease your mind off things and give you the sweating you need. Physical activities will not only exercise your body but it can also stimulate your brain to make you feel happier and relaxed. Frequent exercising has also been found to prevent depression, improves confidence and makes you look good.

Depression can be caused by different factors and these can include having a low self-esteem and low confidence level. Exercising helps fight depression by releasing endorphins that act as an antidepressant and natural pain reliever for the body. Chemical reactions in the body stimulated by performing physical exercises give a person a feeling of happiness.

Exercise against Chronic Disease

Frequent physical activities can help manage and prevent the incidence of high blood pressure. This can also lower down a person's bad cholesterol levels and improve good cholesterol density by stimulating better metabolism. The increased pumping of the heart promotes healthier blood flow and avoids the build-up of cholesterol plaques on the walls of the arteries.

Exercise for Improved Energy Levels

When a person exercises, oxygen and nutrients are delivered more efficiently throughout the cardiovascular system and optimizes the performance of other bodily functions and mechanisms. This results to better breathing and reduced incidence of “catching one's breath.”

Exercise to Promote Better Sleep

Scheduling a physical activity a few hours before sleep can help a person sleep faster, deeper, better and longer. This is very important since a good night's sleep has domino effects resulting to other benefits like improved concentration, mood, and productivity.

Exercise against Type 2 Diabetes

The initial impact of frequent exercising in order to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes is its benefits in managing weight. Obesity, and the excessive accumulation of unused fat in the body, results to a higher risk of getting the disease. Having a well-managed weight can improve the cells' response to insulin and help in better sugar metabolism. Exercising also helps in lowering cholesterol levels and high blood pressure.

The Adverse Effects of Excessive Exercise

Anything in excess can be bad, and exercise, though generally good, when performed excessively can result to different health problems. Too much exercise is an activity that causes stress. It has catabolic effects to the body and without sufficient rest and proper nutrients, it can result to circulatory problems including stroke. For people who are aiming to improve physical performance, exercise needs to be performed gradually and with sufficient rest in between to allow the muscles to recuperate and heal; excessive exercise causes micro-tears in the muscles and it will take time for it to heal. Before the start of any exercise, a moderate warm-up and proper stretching will prepare the body for further physical exertion.

A good exercise routine makes a person breath harder and deeper, improves cardiovascular and muscular strength, tones the muscles, improves the body's range of motion and promotes better flexibility. You can combine different exercise routines like jogging for cardiovascular strength, weight lifting for muscular toning and strength-building, and stretching or doing calisthenics to improve flexibility. This can also be achieved by doing things the traditional way, like using the stairs instead of the elevator, walking for short trips instead of driving and getting a pet dog to have a reason to jog or walk every day.

Sources
eurekalert.org
www2.gsu.edu
medicinenet.com