An Active Lifestyle: Why It’s Important
An active lifestyle can positively impact your life in a variety of ways. According to reports from the Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee, regular physical activity is associated with reduced risk of conditions. These conditions include stroke, hypertension, coronary heart disease, type II diabetes, depression, and many types of cancer.
How does living healthy benefit you?
Living an active lifestyle boosts high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, which is considered “good” cholesterol. Secondly, it also decreases unhealthy triglycerides. In other words, allowing your blood to flow easily, lessening your risk for cardiovascular diseases.
Physical activity is a natural mood booster. Meaning, it stimulates various chemicals in your brain, allowing you to become happier, less anxious, and more relaxed. Moderate aerobic exercise also increases the amount of time you spend in a deep sleep. The most restorative sleep phase. Increased deep sleep can help reduce stress and anxiety, support cardiac health, and boost immune function.
Overall, doing some physical activity is better than none. The simplest change you can make to start living an active lifestyle is to begin replacing sedentary behavior with lighter-intensity activities, like walking. Gradually increase your exercise duration and intensity as your body adapts to regular physical activity.
If you have chronic health problems you should work with your doctor to develop the right exercise program for your body.
To learn more about why it’s important to live an active lifestyle, and the dangers of being sedentary, check out this infographic:
