We’ve been told a 1001 times that exercise is good for us and the visual benefits are hard to ignore. However, exercise is great for a lot more than just losing weight and rocking a hot bod, so if you need a little bit more motivation to get moving, then here are the GR8 8 unexpected benefits from regular exercise;

Exercise boosts energy

Who doesn’t want more energy to not only make it through your day, but to accomplish everything you want and more in your day! Did you know that up to 70% of our energy is spent on digestion alone? Exercise will boost your metabolism, helping you to digest food more efficiently, conserving precious energy and fuelling your bodies’ cells.

You’ll have better sex

Now you’re listening! Exercise helps us to balance our hormones and endocrine system. Our hormonal or endocrine system is similar to an orchestra; if 1 instrument in an was out of tune, the whole piece of music would be affected. If 1 of our precious hormones is out of whack, it affects the delicate balance of our hormonal system. We need just the right amount of testosterone, whether we are male or female to get us in the mood…….and if we are carrying too much adipose or fat tissue, we will produce too much of the wrong type of oestrogen, which will definitely get us out of the mood.

You’ll sleep better

Not only will exercise help you fall asleep quicker, but it will also help you stay asleep and help you feel well rested in the morning. One of the ways it does this is by increasing our core temperature, which signals the body to produce and release melatonin; a critical hormone that helps to improve our sleep patterns.

It will make you smarter

The endorphins you release when you exercise will improve your ability to concentrate and sharpen your focus by a few mechanisms by increasing the level of oxygen to your tissues, including your brain. Regular exercise is key as we age as it lowers inflammation and oxidative stress, therefore lowering risk factors for dementia, including Alzheimers disease.

It is a natural antidepressant

Exercise releases chemicals and endorphins which help with our feelings of happiness and content. Exercise has even been shown in research to be of benefit for those suffering from clinical depression as it will increase production and secretion of serotonin.

It can reduce your risk of cancer

Insulin is a hormone like substance that helps to move the sugar we eat into our cells. Too many of us are eating far too much of the sweet stuff and high insulin levels drive inflammation in the body. High inflammation increases our risk factors for chronic diseases, including cancer. Exercise helps to lower insulin levels, and monitoring insulin levels is one of the most powerful ways to reduce your cancer risk.

You’ll look younger

Increasing our circulation with regular, heart pumping exercise helps us carry nutrient rich blood and oxygen to our tissues, including our skin. Our ability to renew and regenerate all of our cells, including our skin cells slows down as we age – so whilst it’s fabulous to have so many fantastic creams, lotions and potions available to us to help us stay more youthful, we need exercise in the mix too to renew, restore and regenerate.

Because you can

It’s easy to think about exercise as just another thing you ‘have’ to do. Unfortunately not everyone has the luxury of 2 x legs and 2 x arms that can move you through your sun salutations or a healthy heart and lungs to help them move and breath. So be grateful that you can exercise – and get moving!