The benefits of exercise are not only nice side effects, they are necessary for a healthy life. The separate parts of our body, such as organs and muscles work together as one. The digestive system feeds the muscles, which in turn help to build strong bones. If we ignore one area of our body, we damage the whole.

Exercise = Burned Calories = Weight Loss = Better Health

The rate at which your body uses energy increases with exercise, which increases your metabolism. Your body will thus burn calories faster and more efficiently, helping you to lose or maintain your weight at a healthy level. The more calories you burn during exercise, the more weight you will lose.

Diabetes

The risk of ever developing this killer decreases with maintaining a healthy weight. Exercise aids in this.

Heart

Your heart is a muscle. The more you exercise it, the stronger it becomes. A strong heart pumps blood, with its life giving oxygen supply, much more easily. Exercise also helps to reduce bad cholesterol and inflammation of the arteries and keeps them more elastic, which keeps your blood pressure normal.

Lungs

The effect of exercise on the lungs is that when you have stronger muscles, you require less deep breathing to accomplish a task. In other words, you don't give out of breath as easily.

Joints

The more you use the joints in your body, the less likely they will become stiff, especially as you age. This is why swinging your arms is recommended when you walk. It puts more joints into use.

Bones and Muscles

Tendons attach our muscles to our bones. When we exercise, it causes the muscles to pull on the bones, which strengthens both. Exercise will also help slow the loss of bone as we age.

A Few More Benefits

Other proven benefits of exercise are better management of chronic pain, lifting your spirits and fighting depression, sleep that is more restful, better memory, improved sex life and living a longer life.

You don't have to join a gym and work out like Rocky Balboa to enjoy these benefits of exercise. Check with your doctor and talk with him or her about a good exercise program for your health and age.

The important things to remember are to start slow and stick to it. Get some type of, heart rate elevating, exercise everyday, even if it is only knee-bends in front of the television. Give your body what it needs and it will serve you well, for longer.

Learn more about this author, Pamela Kay.
Click here to send author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about The benefits of exercise?
We want to hear your view. Write now!