“Exercise improves your health”, “exercise is good for your heart”...how often have you heard them? The problem is, how many people actually know why exercise is good for your heart – and for you? This article aims to explain it in full so that next time you exercise, you’ll know your heart will thank you for it, and you’ll know you won’t have to spend hours in the gym.

Lower Blood Pressure.

A recent study has showed that a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate exercise 5 times a week reduced blood pressure by up to 75% in some people, while another showed a significant decrease for between three to nine hours after a single workout! The lowering of blood pressure takes excess strain off the heart, meaning it will work more efficiently over a period of time with less risks of problems developing.

Improve cholesterol levels.

Another recent study showed a surprising decrease in the amount of LDL cholesterol (the “bad” one) with a corresponding rise in HDL cholesterol (the “good” one) over a 12 week exercise regime. The amount of exercise seems more significant than intensity, as the longer they worked out for, the better the levels got but intensity didn’t seem to have as significant a change. Even if their weight didn’t change by much, the cholesterol levels changed.

Prevent Type 2 Diabetes.

The combination of both healthy balanced diet and exercise is a powerful tool when it comes to not only combating diabetes but preventing it entirely. Research has shown that moderately intense exercise, a good diet and weight loss that causes someone to fall within the desirable range for their height can all prevent – or even reverse – Type 2 diabetes.

The good news is that no matter how old you are, how unfit you are, or how long its been since you exercised regularly, it IS possible to start leading an active lifestyle and claim for yourself a healthier, happier life.