Exercise Physical and Mental Health Benefits

Medically established ways that a routine of regular exercise provides physical and mental health benefits.

· Exercise controls your weight by burning calories.

· Exercise reduces your risk of cardiovascular disease by improving your heart’s function. It lowers the risk of both heart attacks and strokes.

· Exercise reduces your risk for type 2 diabetes and combinations of high cholesterol, high blood pressure and high glucose levels (together known as metabolic syndrome).

· Exercise specifically reduces your risk of colon and breast cancers, and it probably reduces your risk of endometrial and lung cancers.

· Exercise improves the functioning of your immune system.

· Exercise strengthens your bones and muscles, and it keeps your joints functioning well.

· Exercise maintains your mobility and agility, it improves your ability to perform the activities of daily living and prevent falls as you age.

· Exercise slows the development of arthritis.

· Exercise improves your mental health and mood by stimulating pleasurable parts of your brain and improving blood flow to your brain.

· Exercise reduces the rate of depression.

· Exercise reduces the development of insomnia and other sleep disorders.