We all know that any weight loss regimen benefits greatly from the addition of exercise, but there are also numerous benefits to incorporating exercise into our daily lives even if we maintain a healthy weight. Let's take a close look at seven benefits to routine workouts beyond weight loss.
Regular exercise can give your heart a workout, making it stronger. Studies have shown that routine aerobic exercise can reduce blood pressure by approximately 20 percent. The heart-healthy benefits of a consistent workout plan don't end at blood pressure reduction. Regular exercise can help promote an increase in LDL cholesterol, also referred to as "good" cholesterol. Keeping your heart in good shape can also have long-term benefits such as a reduction in the risk of heart disease as your body grows older.
Getting a good workout in several times a week can also help your body fight off illness. Regular brisk activity promotes lung health and helps your immune system fight off respiratory disease. Keeping your lungs in good shape will strengthen resistance against bacteria and airborne contaminants that enter your body when you breathe and maintaining strong lungs through exercise may also help reduce the severity of symptoms and could quicken recovery time if you do happen to fall ill.
Exercise keeps the brain busy rather than dwelling on things that may cause anxiety. It also aids in the regulation of the hormone cortisol. When your body produces too much cortisol, you can feel restless and anxious which leads to increased stress levels.
Regular exercise not only reduces stress levels, but it also releases endorphins into your system. Endorphins can regulate your mood, fight depression and give you a sense of mild euphoria that can lead to long-term stress relief.
A lack of exercise can lead to restless nights. If you don't sleep well, your physical abilities and mental cognition could be impacted throughout the day.
Researchers suggest that 150 minutes of exercise a week will help promote a regular sleep cycle, and may give your body the ability to perform with less sleep than those who don't work out regularly. Much of the energy spent while asleep goes to repairing the body from the grind of the day. Regular exercise keeps your body in good shape and gives your body extra energy for repairs reducing the time it takes to recover overnight.
It may sound like a contradiction, but expending physical energy through exercise will recharge your body and give you more energy throughout the day. Working out for as little as 20 minutes a day, three days a week has been shown to improve energy levels and increase productivity.
People who find the time for regular exercise also tend to avoid fatigue later in the day. Afternoon sluggishness can lead to poor judgment and the desire to reach for a caffeinated beverage which may inevitably lead to a crash once the caffeine boost wears off. Regular exercise can prepare you mentally and physically to face the day. If you still experience an afternoon slowdown, try reaching for a TapouT Cherry Lemonade Blast rather than coffee. TapouT contains plenty of vitamins to give your energy levels a natural boost.
Exercise stimulates brain cells and can improve cognition. Keeping up with a regular workout routine can not only help boost cognitive abilities now, but will set a pattern that could potentially ward of cognitive deterioration later in life.
When you work out, you increase the blood flow in your body bringing your brain the oxygen it needs to thrive. This can keep your mind sharp and focused throughout the day.
You can also give your mind an extra boost by keeping it active during a workout. Mixing up your routine on a daily basis will require your brain to concentrate on a new pattern every time you hit the gym. This will promote neuron activity and could potentially improve your short and long-term memory.
Finally, some researchers have suggested that routine exercise can make us happier and improve our overall mental state. While the science behind it is unclear, exercise seems to release endorphins and balance the hormones that lead to mood swings. Some therapists actually include exercise as part of treatments for mild depression and other mood disorders.
Taking your workout routine to the great outdoors can add even more positive outcomes. The sun is one of the greatest natural sources of vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiencies have been linked to mood swings and depression.
No matter what your reason for working up a sweat, make sure you remember to hydrate properly. TapouT Citrus Kick has 30 grams of carbohydrates to give you a boost during an intense workout session, and our Cherry Lemonade Blast is a tasty zero-sugar, low-calorie alternative for those looking for a sports drink for low activity days.
Regardless of which variety you choose, TapouT provides the electrolytes and vitamins that water simply can't provide. Both flavors of TapouT contain a mix of vitamins A, C, E and several from the B vitamin complex. It's also the only major sports beverage to include all four electrolytes. TapouT sports drinks contain plenty of potassium, magnesium, chloride and calcium to help your muscles perform and recover after a workout.
TapouT also contains more natural sodium than other sports drinks. Natural sodium aids your body's efforts to remain hydrated and utilize fluids properly. With plenty of electrolytes, vitamins and sodium, TapouT can be counted on to supplement your hydration routine and ward of the health risks associated with dehydration.