Sajila Nudrat | Health Editor
Featured Image: According to WHO, about 1.4 billion people face a range of health problems due to physical inactivity. | Courtesy of Pexels
An apple a day keeps the doctor away; a well known saying intended to generate a positive response to eating healthy. Along with caring about what we put into our bodies, it’s important to keep the body healthy by staying active; you cannot keep a car running on the same oil, it needs to be changed regularly in order to ensure a smooth ride.
Exercise is vital to every individual. It enhances and maintains physical fitness, along with health and wellness.
There are different kinds of exercise. Whether an individual prefers to regularly work out at the gym, go for runs, or partake in yoga, it’s important that they find something that works for them and stick with it.
Regular exercise maintains body mass. With aging it’s important for a person to take care of their body mass so that they can manage it while they are still young and prevent complications in the future. Exercising helps to prevent excess weight gain and helps to prevent weight loss. Burning calories keeps a person healthy and fit.
Exercise has been linked to mood enhancement. Physical activity helps stimulate various brain chemicals that can make an individual feel more relaxed. Exercise limits stress on the brain, as it increases serotonin levels in the body which help regulate mood, sleep and appetite. It also increases endorphins which are natural mood lifters.
Additionally, exercise combats various illnesses and diseases. It is proven to prevent a variety of health issues, such as depression, arthritis, diabetes and cancer.
Lupe Lacson, a third-year Schulich student discusses the impact regular exercise has had on her life. “It’s a way to release stress and make me feel good about myself because I know I’m actively working towards becoming healthier. It also boosts confidence once you see results, as you feel more comfortable in your own skin. Once you start to feel and look good physically, it reflects mentally and emotionally.”
Another, less well-known benefit to exercising is that it promotes better sleep. In a time where students are severely sleep deprived and suffering insomnia, it is important to get ahead of the problem before it becomes too difficult to manage. Exercise can help get sleep patterns back to normal, and sleep is key to protecting the brain from damage.
As a person ages, exercising stimulates the body to release proteins and other chemicals that improve brain function—it helps to keep thinking, learning and other vital skills sharp.
Lacson, does mention a downside to exercising: “It can be time consuming, but if you’re dedicated enough you’ll set aside time for it and work towards your fitness goal even if your busy”, and this is because at the end of the day, exercising is vital and essential towards living a long, healthy life.
