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