A daily one Stroll around the block or in the park has a direct impact on your health – physical, mental and emotional.

Regular exercise reduces the risk of death

A comprehensive analysis from the University of Queenslandwhich looked at 85 long-term studies, found that people who were regularly active had a 20 to 40 percent lower risk of death and a 30 to 40 percent lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.

The analysis also observed a lower risk of cancer, but this could not be clearly linked to regular exercise. This does not mean that exercise has no effect at all on the risk of cancer, but rather that the connection is much more complicated, as other factors (such as genes, environment, smoking, diet, or simply chance) can play a larger role in cancer.

The analysis also showed that people who meet the usual exercise recommendation of 150 minutes per week also have a lower risk of general and cardiovascular mortality. A little bit of regular exercise is much better than no exercise at all.

This is how exercise affects your mental health

1. Exercise stimulates blood flow throughout the body, which carries more oxygen to the brain. This increases memory and concentration performance.
2. Fresh air while walking also provides you with oxygen. There are numerous articles and studies about exercise in the fresh air, such as from AOK health insurancewhich emphasize the importance of getting outside every day.
3. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins, serotonin and dopamine. These are messenger substances that are associated with mood, motivation and internal reward.
4. Exercise improves sleep and reduces inner restlessness. Better sleep in turn, it has a direct positive effect on concentration, mood and stress resistance the next day.
5. You too self-consciousness can be increased through exercise and sport.

How your body benefits from regular exercise

1. Soaking up in sunlight counteracts a vitamin D deficiency and strengthens the immune system. Active people have been proven to have more immune cells and are therefore much more able to counteract infections with viruses and bacteria.
2. When you exercise, serotonin is released. This helps against cravingswhich makes it easier for you to maintain the calorie deficit needed to lose weight.
3. A walk also activates the abdominal muscles. The digestive organs are gently massaged while walking and the digestive juices are stimulated. It is therefore particularly suitable after eating.
4. When you walk, you strengthen the entire musculoskeletal system as you use all muscles and many joints. This ensures that the joints maintain their function, which in turn prevents movement pain as we age.
5. Regular walks will also keep you looking young for longer. The skin is better supplied with blood, which leads to a beautiful, healthy complexion.