When it comes to leading a healthy lifestyle, exercise ranks high on the list of importance.

The way you choose to move your body can have an impact on your overall health and wellbeing. Exercise is an important step in both living a healthy lifestyle and preventing future disease or complications.

Here’s why exercise is important.

1. It keeps you fit.

Exercise helps you to have a strong body, which reduces your chances of having weight-related diseases.

Diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol are a few of the common complications that can arise from being overweight or failing to regularly engage in physical activity. More serious, life-threatening issues, like heart attacks and heart complications, can also result from a lack of physical activity.

Working out regularly has been shown to reduce your risk of having a heart-related illness. Regular exercise lowers your blood pressure and helps to maintain a healthy weight, reducing your risk for many diseases.

2. It can be like meditation.

If you choose to run, cycle, or swim as your fitness activity of choice, you may find that it is actually a stress release. It can allow you to enter an almost meditation-like state. While exercising, you are focused on the present, which helps you to relieve your stress while you are working out your muscles. It also gives you the opportunity to think through some of the concerns that might be clogging up your subconscious.

Many athletes use this time as a meditation session. Whether your stresses stem from work or your personal life, you might be able to clear your mind by the end of your workout.

3. It’s a healthy hobby that you can enjoy anywhere.

Whether you’re vacationing on a cruise ship or visiting the mountains, you can exercise almost anywhere you go. No gym or fancy equipment is necessary.
Another great thing about exercise is that it’s free. Exercise in its purest form, whether it be a walk, run or some sit-ups in your living room — costs nothing. Of course, you always have the option to take your fitness to the next level with a personal trainer or monthly gym membership if you want.

Whether it’s to help relieve stress or a way to keep your heart healthy and strong, there is no shortage of reasons for why exercise is important.

The views expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Ultimate Medical Academy.