Why Exercise Improves Energy
Have you ever felt sluggish or fatigued at the end of the day despite getting adequate sleep and eating the right foods?
I was reading from this article on the benefits of exercise beyond simply strength or flexibility. So, I thought I would share some thoughts.
The reality is that we do not know all the mechanisms that cause the body to respond so well to regular exercise. What we do know are the effects!
An amazing effect that has been shown time and time again is the improvement in mood and energy throughout the day. People who regularly exercise report lower incidences of anxiety and depression and have been shown to be more productive in the workplace.
Exercise has been shown to increase metabolism, higher blood flow to the brain, and improved quality of sleep.
Metabolism: When we exercise we burn energy in the form of glucose and we create a demand for more energy. This is why we need to eat. When we exercise regularly, our body becomes more efficient at using the limited resources we get from food, and sends those nutrients and glucose to the areas that need them most. Because of this, we have less glucose in the blood clogging up our arteries and causing damage to vascular structures, to include the brain.
Blood Flow: As we exercise our body allocates blood to the areas that are most vital for the task being performed. For example, when we are performing a bench press, the capillaries in our arms and chest expand to allow more blood to travel to these regions. In addition, our heart rate increases (yes lifting weights is a cardio workout as well) which additionally helps pump blood to the working muscles. Interestingly, these blood flow changes are also seen in the brain during and after exercise. More blood flow = more oxygen = more fuel for the brain!
Quality of Sleep: Regular morning exercise has been shown to help filter out a chemical in the brain known as adenosine. Adenosine is responsible for feeling tired and is important for triggering the desire to sleep. The problem is when we do not filter out all the adenosine (maybe from too little sleep or poor quality sleep) and we end up feeling foggy headed throughout the day. Since morning exercise has been shown to improve filtration of adenosine, we have improved mental energy and mood throughout the day.
Most people know that exercise is a good thing, but we do not always think about other areas exercise can positively impact our lives.
Get out there and move!
