5 Surprising Gains of Exercise

When people are asked about the benefits of exercise, most like they all have the same response saying that exercise is for you to be fit. We all have that notion that exercise is solely done for the purpose of getting fit and maintaining that mean and sexy bods. However, there are plenty of amazing benefits that exercise give that might change your perception about exercise. We give to you some of these amazing we can gain from exercising. 

1. Exercise is also beneficial for your brain.

It is backed by various studies that exercise helps reducing depression, increase learning capacity and develops a better memory. Studies also suggest that exercise can help prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Although it has not been known exactly how exercise does change the function and structure of the brain but currently it is something on active research. By far, they have found out that exercising can improve blood flow to the brain while serving the growth of the new blood vessels, new brain cells and of Brain-Derived Neurotropic Factor (BDNF). The BDNF can trigger the growth of the new neurons and helps protect and repair brain cells from degeneration. 

2. Reduce depression

Numerous studies have shown that exercising can help reduce depression. Exercise actually triggers the release of dopamine, endorphins, serotonin, and norepinephrine. These chemicals are known to lighten the mood, relieve stress and even dull pain. 

3. Natural Anti-aging factor

Exercise studies have shown that it can help prolong lifespan by about 5 years and may slow down the aging of our cells. As we get older, our cells divide their telomeres repeatedly. Telomeres are protective caps of the chromosomes. In order to see how exercising affects telomeres, some researchers made a muscle biopsy and took blood samples from 10 random people before and after they performed a 45-minute ride on a stable bike. Researchers found out that exercise boosted the level of a molecule that helps protect telomeres, conclusively showing how suddenly they shorten over the time. Exercise then appears to slow the aging at a cellular level. 

4. Great for your skin

Exercise can improve the blood flow to the skin as it delivers oxygen and essential nutrients that help improve the skin and even heal wounds faster - making your skin healthier, young-looking and glowing.  

5. Shrink your fats away

Our body uses both fats and carbohydrates as its source of energy. But as you get used to exercising, your body gets better at burning fat, which then needs a lot more of oxygen to convert to energy. Another benefit from exercise is that the cardiovascular system will get stronger and better in delivering oxygen, so we are able to metabolize a lot more of our fats and use it as our energy source. As a benefit, fat cells which produce chemicals for chronic low-grade inflammation will shrink and so is inflammation too.