{"id":5589,"date":"2015-03-06T09:11:44","date_gmt":"2015-03-06T14:11:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nchealthplans.com\/news\/?p=5589"},"modified":"2015-02-23T09:12:53","modified_gmt":"2015-02-23T14:12:53","slug":"feel-better-the-benefits-of-physical-activity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nchealthplans.com\/news\/2015\/03\/feel-better-the-benefits-of-physical-activity\/","title":{"rendered":"Feel Better! – The Benefits of Physical Activity"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Family<\/a>We all know exercise is an important part of feeling well, but you may be surprised at how much regular physical activity can improve not only your health, but also your mood and overall effectiveness.\u00a0 One of the nice things about exercise is that it is available to everyone, regardless of your age, gender or even ability.\u00a0 There are many different kinds of physical activities for all different kinds of people.\u00a0 According to the Mayo Clinic,<\/a> there are at least 7 clear benefits to regular physical activity.\u00a0 Check these out and we think you will agree that routine exercise is one of the best choices you can make for your daily life.<\/p>\n

Benefit No. 1:\u00a0 Exercise Controls Weight<\/strong><\/p>\n

Weight is really a fairly simple formula of calories in and calories out.\u00a0 Exercise helps prevent excess weight gain and allows for weight loss because physical activity burns calories.\u00a0 More intensive activities, such as running or swimming burn more calories, while less intensive activities such as walking burn less.\u00a0 Nevertheless, all activity helps!\u00a0 Even small adjustments in your routine, such as taking the stairs instead of an elevator, can make a big difference and you don’t have to set aside hours of your day.\u00a0 A twenty minute brisk walk daily can have a big impact on weight control and there are many exercise routines you can do right in your own home.<\/a><\/p>\n

Benefit No. 2:\u00a0 Exercise Combats Health Conditions and Diseases<\/strong><\/p>\n

Exercise increases blow flow, which in turn reduces your risk for cardiovascular diseases.\u00a0 Physical activity boosts HDL or “good” cholesterol and decreases unhealthy triglycerides, which can help prevent heart disease and high blood pressure.\u00a0 Studies have shown that maintaining a regular exercise routine can help prevent or manage a wide variety of health related problems, including certain types of cancer, stroke, type 2 diabetes, arthritis and even depression.\u00a0 If you want to live longer, exercise is perhaps the most important thing you can do.<\/p>\n

Benefit No. 3:\u00a0 Exercise Improves Mood<\/strong><\/p>\n

We all have mood swings, which is a natural part of being human, but did you know that a gym workout or a nice long walk can actually help improve you mood?\u00a0 Physical exercise stimulates not only your body, but also your brain, releasing chemicals that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed.\u00a0 When you exercise regularly, you may also feel more confident in your appearance, which can boost self esteem and an overall sense of well-being.<\/p>\n

Benefit No. 4:\u00a0 Exercise Boosts Energy<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you find yourself feeling exhausted or unable to complete daily chores or responsibilities energetically, you may need more physical activity.\u00a0 Improving muscle strength and boosting endurance, exercise delivers oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and helps your cardiovascular system work more efficiently.\u00a0 When your body works better, you have more energy to meet the demands of daily life.<\/p>\n

Benefit No. 5:\u00a0 Exercise Promotes Better Sleep<\/strong><\/p>\n

It may seem counter-intuitive, but if you are struggling to either fall asleep or stay asleep, regular exercise can help.\u00a0 Because your body will be more tired, you may find you fall asleep faster and sleep deeper than you ever have before.\u00a0 Although you want to avoid exercising too close to bedtime as this can actually increase your energy level, a routine of physical activity can improve your sleep immeasurably.<\/p>\n

Benefit No. 6:\u00a0 Exercise Puts the Spark Back in Your Sex Life<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is straight from the Mayo Clinic, so it must be true.\u00a0 Regular physical activity can leave you feeling energized and looking better, both of which may have a positive effect on your sex life.\u00a0 According to the experts, exercise “can lead to enhanced arousal for women and men who exercise regularly are less likely to have problems with erectile dysfunction than are men who don’t exercise.”<\/p>\n

Benefit No. 7:\u00a0 Exercise Can Be Fun<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are many ways to make exercise fun.\u00a0 A hike through the woods or rowing a boat across a lake are great ways to enjoy the outdoors and engage in joyful experiences.\u00a0 Use exercise to connect with family or friends in a social setting by playing a game of volleyball, going paddle boarding or skiing down the slopes.\u00a0 Joining a soccer team or participating in a water aerobics class are great ways to meet new people and increase your circle of friends, while improving your health.\u00a0 As the Nike slogan says, “Just Do It!” and if you find you don’t enjoy what you are doing, try something new.\u00a0 You are sure to find an activity that suits your lifestyle.<\/p>\n

Bottom line is:\u00a0 Exercise is vital for health and mental well-being and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina<\/a> is a proud supporter of preventive health care! As a general rule of thumb, aim for about 30 minutes of physical activity a day.\u00a0 If you have specific weight loss goals in mind, you may have to exercise more, but always consult your doctor before beginning any exercise regime.<\/p>\n

For more information on Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina health insurance coverage, the Marketplace and healthcare gov<\/a>\u00a0 to apply for your subsidy, please visit our website at www.nchealthplans.com<\/a> or call our toll free number 888-765-5400 and speak with one of our experienced and professional agents.\u00a0 Let us help you navigate through the Health Care Reform changes in accordance with the new regulations of The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obama care<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We all know exercise is an important part of feeling well, but you may be surprised at how much regular physical activity can improve not only your health, but also your mood and overall effectiveness.\u00a0 One of the nice things about exercise is that it is available to everyone, regardless of your age, gender or […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,635],"tags":[698,699,98,700],"class_list":["post-5589","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fitness","category-preventive-care-2","tag-bcbnc","tag-physical-exercise","tag-preventive-care","tag-weight-control"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nchealthplans.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5589","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nchealthplans.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nchealthplans.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nchealthplans.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nchealthplans.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5589"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.nchealthplans.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5589\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5598,"href":"https:\/\/www.nchealthplans.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5589\/revisions\/5598"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nchealthplans.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5589"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nchealthplans.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5589"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nchealthplans.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5589"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}