Flourish Health & Wellbeing eMagazine - Jan21 - Flipbook - Page 21
Increase self-esteem
As previously stated, exercise increases
the secretion of feel-good hormones. If
this happens on a regular basis, it can
begin to impact how we feel in our
everyday lives as well. Not only are you
more likely to feel happier more often,
but your ability to cope with stress
improves too. Sometimes, if you’re
exercising regularly, you may also be
able to see improvements in how you
feel about your body, which also
naturally boosts self-esteem.
Decreases cognitive decline
According to several studies, exercise
helps memory and thinking through both
direct and indirect means. Directly,
exercise reduces insulin resistance,
reduces inflammation, and stimulates
the release of growth factors, which are
chemicals in the brain that affect the
health of brain cells, the growth of new
blood vessels in the brain, and even the
abundance and survival of new brain
cells. Indirectly, exercise improves
mood and sleep, and reduces stress
and anxiety. Problems in these areas
frequently cause or contribute to
cognitive impairment.
Studies have also revealed that there is
approximately a 20% to 30% lower risk
of depression and dementia in adults
participating in daily physical activity.
Physical activity reduces the likelihood
of experiencing cognitive decline in
people who do not have dementia.
