by Jerome Carter

Created on: October 20, 2010

There are a number of benefits to exercising regularly and staying in shape.  Here a just a few:

(1) Exercise allows you to get high without drugs:

Some addictive drugs, such as amphetamines and cocaine, work by causing the production of norepinephrine and dopamine.  These two chemicals are associated with feelings of euphoria, which would explain some people’s attraction to these substances.  Legal pharmaceuticals, such as anti-depressants, have similar effects.  The great thing about exercise is that it produces the same effect as these chemicals, without the negative side effects or risks associated with illegal drug use.  Aerobic exercise- such as running, jogging, walking, swimming, cycling, and cross-country skiing- stimulates the output of chemicals in the brain that produce a feelings of happiness and euphoria.  Studies have shown, in fact, that exercise is at least as effective in treating clinical depression as anti-depressants are.  Exercising has also been shown to reduce stress and anxiety, as well as producing general feelings of well-being.

(2) Exercise makes you smarter:

Evidence suggests that exercise increases a person’s cognitive functioning.  In tests, people who performed aerobic improved their performance in mental tasks.

(3) Exercise can help to alleviate physical aches, pains and discomfort:

Many people suffer from physical aches and pains.  Back problems are so common that an entire profession (chiropractors) has arisen to deal with the problem.  One effective way to reduce back and joint pain is careful exercise.  If you gradual strengthen your back muscles and the muscles around your joints, it can significantly reduce the amount of pain you suffer.

(4) Exercise makes necessary physical chores easier:

Sometimes it is necessary for you to perform tasks that require physical exertion.  In some parts of the world, for example, people have to shovel snow regularly during winter months.  This task requires a fair amount of physical exertion.  If a person is not in very good shape, shoveling snow can be extremely stressful to their body.  But if a person is already in fairly good shape they will be able to shovel snow and perform other tasks with relatively few problems.

(5) Everyone can improve their fitness:

Everyone will not win a marathon or an Olympic medal, but everyone can improve their level of fitness.  Every individual can tailor their exercise programs to their own level of fitness.

(6) Exercise tends to improve the function of the body’s organs:

Regular exercise tends to improve the functioning of many organs in the body.  In response to regular exercise, the heart tends to become stronger and more efficient, and becomes able to pump more blood with each beat.  This strengthening of the heart will help protect against certain heart problems.  Likewise, regular aerobic exercise tends to improve lung functioning.  

(7) Exercise can alleviate health problems and diseases

Exercise’s beneficial effects on body functions mean that exercising can help to control disease.  Regular exercise, for example, can help to control diabetes.  Because exercise tends to increase muscle use of glucose, it helps to alleviate the symptoms of diabetes, which is associated with the body’s inability to reduce blood glucose levels.


REFERENCES

Robert E. Franken.  Human Motivation.  3rd Edition.  Pacific Grove, California: Brooks/Cole Publishing Company, 1994.

Lauralee Sherwood.  Human Physiology: From Cells to Systems.  2nd Edition.  New York: West Publishing Company, 1993.

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