When The Beatles famously sang, “It’s All In The Mind, Y’ Know” in their iconic Yellow Submarine, they perhaps couldn’t have known just how correct they were. Almost 50 years later, a Stanford study has shown that ‘mind over matter’ has a scientific basis.
In a study done on people’s beliefs about exercise and the quantum of exercise that they’re getting, they found that people who believed they were working out enough lived longer than people who felt they weren’t working out as much as their peers. Yes, just the thought that we are working out enough, or more than enough, makes us live longer.1
However, for us to believe that we are doing enough exercise, we need to do some exercise first. Hence, if you need enough motivation to make working out a habit, here are a few proven benefits that exercise offers to your body and mind.
1. Exercise Can Prevent A Heart Attack
In studies done on people who are active either as a result of their profession or by choice, it was found that their risk and incidence of heart disease was much lower than people who lived otherwise sedentary lives. In other words, if you exercise regularly, you are less likely to have a heart attack and other coronary issues.2
2. Exercise Makes You Feel Better
Endorphins are the happy hormones, and the pumped-up feeling you get after a workout is due to them. Exercise stimulates the reward center in the brain and generates feelings of positivity. Thus, exercise keeps us free from anxiety and stress.3
3. Exercise Can Prevent Some Cancers
It’s been reported that exercise can prevent the formation of cancerous cells/ Getting adequate exercise can reduce your risk of colon, breast, endometrial and lung cancer. Exercise also improves the quality of life in cancer survivors.4
4. Exercise Improves Memory In Young People
A sustained plan of moderate to vigorous exercise is known to help young adults develop better memory, recall things faster after several days, enhance their sense of direction, and also improve spatial memory.5
5. Exercise Actually Improves Your Chances Of Living Longer
Well, you don’t have to just think it either. Exercise actually gives you a shot at a longer, more active life. Even moderate activities offer this benefit, so you don’t have to turn to just the very intense ones. If you haven’t been working out at all, then start with simple exercises like walking and stretching. Studies show that even 30 minutes of exercise a day can increase lifespan.6
6. Exercise Can Prevent Osteoarthritis
Arthritis can be quite a debilitating condition, as it restricts movement and mobility. While rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition, osteoarthritis results from the wear and tear of the skeletal system. The risk of developing it can be reduced by a whopping 83% simply by working out.7
7. Exercise Reduces The Risk For Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is considered a metabolic disorder that results from oxidant and environmental stress on the body, among other causes. Exercise cuts down the risk of developing diabetes by half. That is more than what cutting out processed food does for you and diabetes.8
8. Exercise Benefits You In Old Age
Consistent exercise throughout life reduces the development of dementia, balance issues, and falls in later life. A simple activity like gardening can also be beneficial. Some studies have shown that exercise cuts dementia risk by 30%.9
So, aim to get at least a good 30 minutes of exercise every day, even if you’re not hitting the gym for intensive workouts. Everybody has different tolerance levels, so compare your exercise routine with somebody else’s. Believe that you have exercised enough, and don’t let negativity creep in.
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