6 benefits of exercise you never thought of!
 |
Slimmer thighs, firmer muscles, more energy and a healthier heart are all pay-offs you'd expect to get from getting fitter - but here are six benefits of improved fitness that you may not have thought of! |
Better
hearing
Pardon? Yes, it's true! A study at Miami University found that
cardiovascular training improves your hearing in the short
term and helps to preserve it in the long term. Other
studies have found that the least fit people tend to have the worst
hearing - and that's even taking into account the number of
exercisers blasting their ears with iPods!
More
creativity
Brand new research from Rhode Island College suggests that aerobic
exercise can kick-start your creativity - and keep your
brain cells tingling for a couple of hours afterwards.
Activities that are ‘no-brainers' and don't require you to put in
too much thought are best - so pick running or swimming over rock
climbing or doubles tennis. Also, don't go too hard, as the best
creativity boost comes from exercising at a comfortable
pace.
Better quitting
power
If you are trying to kick your smoking habit, research suggests
that exercise might help. A study in the Archives of Internal
Medicine followed 281 sedentary female smokers, who were
otherwise healthy, in their efforts to quit. The study found that
smokers who do assigned exercise sessions are twice as
likely to quit and stay cigarette free compared to those who don't
do any exercise.
 |
Deeper sleep Being active during the day can help you get more sleep in at night. According to the US National Sleep Foundation, daytime physical activity can help you to fall asleep more quickly and get better quality sleep. Regular exercise can also help sufferers of insomnia to beat their problem. And, contrary to popular belief, recent research from the University of California suggests that even late evening workouts won't hamper your ability to get to sleep. |
More
regularity
Yes, we're talking about how regularly you go to the bathroom here!
An Australian study found that regular exercisers are less
likely to suffer from constipation than sedentary people.
The boost to your circulation - as well as the actual physical
effects of movement - are thought to be the reason for this. There
is even a link between high levels of fitness and low levels of
bowel cancer - though this may be because fit people are more
likely to eat healthily, too.
Better
focus
The very fact that exercise requires planning, application,
dedication and discipline means that every time you get your kit
on, you are working on your character development, too. For
example, a study of people training for a marathon in New York
found that regular exercise improves people's goal-setting,
organisation and discipline - both at work and in other areas of
life.
from realbuzz.com
