By Dr. Samantha Ristimaki, BSc, ND of Balance Wellness Center

Fitting into your favourite pair of jeans or taking off a few extra pounds should not be your only motivator to hit the gym.  Exercise has profound mental and physical effects on the body that will not only keep you lean but happier and healthier.

Boosts your mood

Every time you exercise your body produces endorphins.  Theses positive mood boosting chemicals linger in your system even after you are finished.  This is the brain chemistry behind a runner’s high! High energy forms of exercise can be a great outlet for feelings of frustration and stress while all forms of exercise help reduce the levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

Improves your sleep

Provided that you do not exercise right before bed, exercise can help you combat insomnia or experience better quality sleep.  Because exercise functions as a physical stressor to the body, the brain compensates by increasing deep sleep.

Increases your energy

Better sleep isn’t the only way you will feel more vital.  Exercise helps to increase the haemoglobin concentration in your blood.  Haemoglobin helps to deliver oxygen to tissue so your brain and muscles have more of what they need to function even when you are at rest.  The heart is a muscle that gets worked out every time you exercise.  The more efficient your heart becomes, the more energy you have to spare for the rest of your body!

Enhances your sex life

Regular exercise not only helps to increase the body’s endorphin levels but it also helps to increase its natural production of testosterone.  Not only will exercise give you more energy and stamina, but testosterone will help to increase your sex drive and increase your blood flow which helps with arousal!

Helps your heart

With more and more women suffering from cardiovascular disease, exercise is a key element in protecting your heart.  Not only will it help keep your blood pressure down and make your heart more efficient but activity can also help to reduce blood levels of triglyceride (bad fat).

Keeps your bones healthy

Women often take their bone health for granted until it’s too late.  Now is the time to lay the foundation for strong bones.  Weight bearing activity helps to strengthen bones and reduce your risk for osteoporosis.