By Los Angeles Times, adapted by Newsela staff
Flexibility Issues
Improved flexibility helps you bend, twist, pick things up and stretch easily without having to worry about straining or pulling a muscle in the process! Also, daily exercise as a kid makes sure that your body faces fewer mobility problems during old age.
Heart Issues
A lack of exercise combined with an unhealthy lifestyle that involves stress, strange meal timings and lack of sleep results in major cardiovascular problems.
Muscle Problems
Regular exercise helps you build up muscle, improves their flexibility, helps avoid cramps and that back ache you feel every time you bend to pick up something!
Weight Issues
It’s common knowledge that a lack of exercise will result in your gaining weight. Instead, if you choose to follow a regular exercise plan, it will help you burn more calories, speed up your metabolism and help improve the blood circulation which aids a good digestion process. All the above three put together help to reduce and control weight!
Stress
When stressed, the body goes in a flight or fight state that makes certain systems of the body such as cardiovascular system speed up and gastro-intestinal systems slow down, which eventually results in the release of Cortisol, a stress hormone.
Exercise, in the meanwhile, results in the release of endorphins – the body’s feel good hormones that help in reducing or slowing down the production of Cortisol, thereby protecting you from conditions such as high blood pressure, weight gain around the middle, metabolism problems, etc.
Bone Problems
Weight bearing exercises and consuming a diet which is rich in calcium and potassium are a good way of protecting our bones and making them stronger!
Mood
With exercise helping you in reducing your stress, preventing depression, toning up your body and having a healthy heart and bones, we think that a sacrifice of your love handles is imminent!
What is the central idea of this article?
- List 2-3 supporting details.
- Do you think students your age should exercise? Why or why not?
- You MUST support your answer with 2 examples from the list and 1 example from personal experience. You must have 3 examples in ALL.