For the past 15 years or so, we have been told that a healthy lifestyle is important. Scientists recommend that we should accumulate an average of 60 minutes of exercise a day to maintain healthy levels. What exactly does that number mean? In the course of a normal day, we should do some type of physical activity that adds up to approximately 60 minutes. Whether it’s at the gym on the treadmill or just in the garden in the afternoon, adding physical activity is vital.

First, we need to know what actually constitutes exercise. The term Healthy Activity can be divided into three categories; Cardiovascular, Resistance and Flexibility.

Cardio workout

It is recommended to do cardio 2 or 3 times a week. Depending on your physical condition, Cardio can consist of a pleasant walk with your dog or a vigorous run on the treadmill. Ideally, you should try to increase your cardiovascular capacity. which has many health benefits.

Endurance training

Part of living an active lifestyle is doing some type of resistance training at least twice a week. That doesn’t mean you have to hit the gym and lift weights, you can easily do it at home by doing movements as simple as push-ups and sit-ups, or using something like resistance bands. Resistance training is just as important as cardiovascular activity and adds to your overall physical health.

Flexibility (stretch)

After exercising, it is recommended that you stretch for about 10 minutes, holding each stretch for 15 to 30 seconds. Stretching is crucial to maintaining flexibility and reducing the possibility of exercise injuries.

Benefits of exercise

So now we know that exercising is important, but what are the real benefits of leading an active lifestyle? Below are just 5 of the myriad benefits of being active.

Reduces the risk of dying prematurely: People who lead an active and healthy lifestyle live longer compared to those who are more sedentary.

Reduces the risk of developing diabetes: exercise keeps body fat under control and helps regulate sugar levels

Increase Muscle Strength – Having an increase in strength helps make daily activities less difficult.

Helps Reduce Risk of Heart Disease: Regular exercise strengthens the heart, respiratory system, and lungs, which helps reduce the risk of heart disease.

Decrease Body Fat – Exercise in conjunction with a balanced diet will significantly reduce body fat.

As you can see, there are many great benefits to leading an active lifestyle. By adding a small amount of cardio, resistance training, and a few stretching to your daily routine, the overall benefits are almost endless. Basically, being healthy is about adding balance to your life. You don’t have to be a Lance Armstrong or Venus Williams to be considered active, you just have to add a few extra activities to your routine.