Both exercise and diet are instrumental in maintaining long-term health of an individual, both physical and mental. Age, ability, ethnicity, shape, or size have little bearing on the health benefits of physical activity, with the exception of affecting the suggested forms of exercise in rare situations. This essay attempts to examine some of the key potential benefits. Among them are brain activity boost, weight control, and positive influence on the metabolic cycle and other biological processes. The arguments are given in relation to different age groups: children, adults and the elderly. The essay reveals the concept of healthy eating, and lists its components. The paper also emphasizes the need to combine two main aspects of a healthy lifestyle. By engaging in physical activity and adhering to a healthy diet, one can significantly improve not only the quantity, but also the quality of life.
During physical activity, the need for oxygen increases, and the oxygen delivery system is trained. With regular physical activity, human tissues and organs are better supplied with oxygen and at rest. Moreover, during physical activity, the heart trains to work more efficiently: it pumps more blood with each stroke, the pulse becomes slower (Hill, 2007). The risk of blood clots and cholesterol levels decrease. Physical activity can also reduce sleep problems’ likelihood and lessen the risk of sadness and anxiety.
Those that try to lose a certain fraction of their weight are well acquainted with the way exercise and diet are combined to achieve this goal. Maintaining a healthy weight is beneficial in many ways, including reducing the risk of developing a number of chronic diseases. The combination of diet and exercise provides more effective weight loss and maintaining it at an optimal level for a long time. However, the concept of a healthy diet cannot be encapsulated with calorie counting alone (Centers for disease control, 2021). To ensure not only weight loss or maintenance, but general physical well-being, a person needs to make sure they are consuming the required amounts of the four groups: carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and lipids. It is, however, also necessary to point out that people’s metabolisms are varied, and it is important to assess one’s dietary requirements if possible.
In the United States, heart disease and stroke are two of the major causes of death. Insufficient physical activity causes 12.2% of cases of myocardial infarction, if the influence of other risk factors is excluded (Hill, 2007). Data were also obtained on the association of a lower level of physical activity compared with more active people not only with overall mortality, but also with coronary heart disease (Hill, 2007). However, even a little physical activity can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and death from all these causes. The development of programs to increase physical activity in the population can have a significant impact on reducing overall and cardiovascular mortality.
Physical exercises in sufficient volume strengthen bones and develop muscles. This allows to significantly reduce the risk of developing diseases of the musculoskeletal system and provide decent muscle support to the spine and bones. Physical exercises act on bones in the same way as on muscles. They strengthen them as they stimulate bone tissue cells to make a matrix. Due to this, the bone becomes denser and stronger. In turn, the muscles strengthened by training better stabilize the bone system. Coordination of movements also improves, which is especially important in old age. Good coordination will help prevent falls and, as a result, fractures.
In conclusion, it can be said that exercise and healthy balanced diet are the two pillars on what the society might rely on when maintaining the well-being of its members. Using these two principles, one can form a habit that will help prolong life and slow down the aging process. It is very important to observe these two basics of healthy lifestyle in a complex. When combined, they are capable of almost entirely transforming a person’s body. Finally, the force of habit would to ensure these new beneficiary interests are fully provided for.
References
Centers for disease control and prevention. (2021). Benefits of physical activity.
Hill, M. (2007). Health and fitness – Excel education systems, Inc. Chicago, IL: McGraw-Hill Education.