Importance of Physical Activity
The human body is designed to be in motion. In simple words,
physical activity refers to the performance of all those tasks in which the body uses energy, such as walking, gardening, doing the grocery store, climbing
stairs, playing sports or dancing the night away.
To benefit health, it should be carried out at an intensity
ranging from moderate to vigorous. By doing vigorous exercises we can obtain
better results in half the time that it would take us to do it with moderate
performance. The simple act of moving around and doing simple things like shopping
or walking casually is not enough for health effects, as this does not increase
the heart rate.
Many times this concept is confused with that of Physical
Exercise, but we must make the difference that this last term is based on a
Physical Activity that follows a repetition, planning, or an approach towards
improving a part of our body and strengthening our conditions. physical.
The benefits of doing a regular Physical Activity are based
on the following advantages that we list, among others:
- Lower risk of cardiovascular disease
- Increase calorie consumption for up to 30 minutes after the activity
- Contrary to popular belief, it reduces your appetite
- A physical activity accompanied by a diet with fewer calories help to lose Body Fat by up to 98%
However, these benefits can be counterproductive due to an
excess of Physical Activity in a short time and suddenly, causing cellular and
physical wear and tear, as well as a greater possibility of contracting
diseases due to affecting the Immune System.
Fight sedentary lifestyle
According to the World Health Organization, physical
inactivity is the fourth risk factor for death worldwide and is the main reason
for diseases such as breast and colon cancer, diabetes, and ischemic heart
disease.
In contrast to the development of a moderate and frequent
Physical Activity, we have Sedentary, being precisely a low or no exercise of
movements in daily activities, thus causing a large number of conditions and
diseases.
A person with a sedentary lifestyle is prone to
- Have cardiovascular disease
- Get type 2 diabetes.
- Increase your cholesterol levels.
- Have high blood pressure.
- Have a heart attack
That is why people that lead a sedentary life even have a greater tendency towards discouragement, have a frequent feeling of discomfort,
and have a tendency to possess a coffee resistance to fatigue, often feeling
fatigued and with a coffee resistance to different activities.
Maintaining physical activity on a regular basis can generate
very positive changes in our lives. People of all ages, size, complexion, and
abilities can benefit as we noted earlier, and we now mention other aspects to
consider: the
- Increases life expectancy.
- Strengthens self-esteem.
- It reduces the chances of falling into some kind of depression.
- Helps you sleep better.
- Facilitates mobility.
- Strengthens bones and muscles.
- Helps to reach and maintain an adequate weight.
- It is a way to socialize healthily.
Physical activity and nutrition work together to improve
health and thus the quality of life. It is also important because as we age the
metabolism slows down, so to maintain an energy balance we need to move more
and eat smartly.
As we mentioned before, it's not just about being on the go. The
frequency and particularly certain sorts of activities help us quite others to
take care of our health.
Aerobic exercises require us to breathe more and make our
heartbeat stronger. Those that are of vigorous intensity require more effort
than the moderate ones.
Activities that involve muscle work, like push-ups and weight
lifting, make us stronger. It is important to work all parts of the body such
as the legs, hips, back, chest, stomach, shoulders, and arms, to obtain a
better result. On the other hand, it is also important to perform exercises
that strengthen bones and promote growth, especially in children and
adolescents. Finally, stretching activities improve physical stability and
adaptability, reducing the danger of injury. Examples are dance, yoga, martial
arts, and tai chi.
Myths around physical activity
Sometimes we think that staying physically active is very
expensive, as we need special clothing and equipment, or certain types of sports
facilities. The truth is that it can be done anywhere and without the need for
equipment. Simple things like a walk or a run are doable practically anywhere.
Another common pretext may be lack of time, however,
specialists say that dedicating a minimum of 30 minutes a day 5 days a week is
more than enough.
Finally, age is not an obstacle either. Physical activity is
necessary for people of all ages, from the very young to the elderly.
No comments