Although both sexes need to exercise regularly, there are some specific benefits for women that embark on regular physical activity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, men are far more likely to meet Federal guidelines of 150 minutes of exercise per week. Inactive adults have an increased risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and other illnesses, but what are the benefits of exercise for women?
Five Reasons for Women to Get Regular Exercise
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According to Marcas Bamman of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, women that exercise decrease their risk of developing breast cancer. The simple fact is that adding exercise to a balanced diet keeps your weight down, which in turn reduces the risk of cancer. It is also a known fact that higher levels of estrogen can increase the risk of breast cancer, and estrogen is stored in fat. Women that exercise regularly normally have a shorter estrogen-producing phase.
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Studies have shown that exercise helps to improve self-confidence in the workplace. This leads to a greater inclination to take on leadership roles and perform work to a higher level. The American College of Sports Medicine reports that 65% of people that work out in the middle of the day enjoy an improved mental and interpersonal performance. For women looking to climb the career ladder, exercise would appear to be essential.
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Post-menopausal women’s body shape is likely to change due to hormone specific profiles like estrogen being removed. Women in this situation are susceptible to abdominal fat gain, which means they end up with an apple-shaped body instead of a pear-shape.
As we age, our level of muscle mass decreases and our metabolism slows, thus making fat gain more likely. Contrary to the many myths propagated in the health and fitness industries, women that train with weights will NOT look like a male bodybuilder unless they start supplementing with testosterone! Women with toned and firm muscles have a better body composition than females lacking muscle mass.
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This headline probably gained your attention! According to the Harvard School of Public Health, as little as 20 minutes of exercise a day can greatly improve a woman’s sexual response. It leaves you feeling energized, more desirable, and also improves self-esteem, vitality, and appearance. Working out with your partner is a great idea because you get to spend some quality time together, push each other on, and trigger adrenaline and other feel-good hormones.
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Exercise enhances blood flow to the skin and can help reduce acne by controlling DHT, DHEA, and other testosterone producing hormones. Sweating also unclogs pores and detoxifies the skin of dirt and oils.
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How Often Should I Work Out?
Surely you can spare 30 minutes a day, five times a week? Or maybe you can have three sessions of 50 minutes? Not all exercise has to be boring treadmill jogging you know! Women should consider weight training for improved body composition, or karate classes which really get the heart rate pumping, but also provide you with lifelong self-defense skills. In the end, you should find a physical activity you enjoy and start moving, because it is great for your health!