Importance of Physical Activity

The human body is designed to be in motion. In simple words, physical activity refers to the performance of all those tasks in which the body uses energy, such as walking, gardening, grocery shopping, climbing stairs, playing sports, or dancing all day evening.

To benefit health, it must be carried out with an intensity ranging from moderate to vigorous. Performing vigorous exercises we can obtain better results in half the time it would take us to do it with a moderate performance. The simple fact of moving and doing simple things like shopping, or walking casually, is not enough for healthy effects, as this does not increase the heart rate.

This concept is often confused with that of Exercise Physical, but we must make the difference that this last term is based on a Physical activity that follows a repetition, a planning or an approach towards improving a part of our body and strengthening our physicals conditions.

The benefits of making a Physical activity regularly are based on the following advantages that we list, among others:

However, these benefits can be counterproductive by an excess of Physical activity in a short time and suddenly, causing cellular and physical wear, in addition to a greater possibility of contracting diseases due to affecting the Immune system.

Fight sedentary lifestyle

According to the World Health Organization, physical inactivity is the fourth risk factor for death worldwide. world and is the main reason for diseases such as breast and colon cancer, diabetes and ischemic heart disease.

Contrary to the development of a Physical activity moderate and frequent, we have at sedentary lifestyle, being precisely a low or null exercise of movements in daily activities, thus causing a large number of conditions and diseases.

A person with a sedentary lifestyle is prone to

• Having cardiovascular diseases.
• Get type 2 diabetes.
• Raise your cholesterol levels.
• Have high blood pressure.
• Suffer a heart attack.

That is why people who lead a sedentary life also have a greater tendency towards discouragement, have a frequent feeling of malaise and usually have a low resistance to fatigue, frequently feeling fatigued and with low resistance to different activities.

Maintaining physical activity on a regular basis can generate very positive changes in our lives. People of all ages, sizes, builds, and abilities can benefit as we noted above, and here are other things to consider:

• Increases life expectancy.
• Strengthens the self-esteem.
• Reduces the chances of falling into some type of depression.
• Helps sleep better.
• Facilitates mobility.
• Strengthens bones and muscles.
• Helps to reach and maintain a proper weight.
• It is a way to socialize healthily.

physical activity and nutrition they work together to improve health and with it the quality of life. It is also important because as we age the metabolism it slows down, so to maintain an energy balance we need to move more and eat smart.

The activities that favor us the most

As we mentioned before, it's not just about being on the go. The frequency and especially certain types of activities help us more than others to maintain our health.

Aerobic exercise requires us to breathe more and makes our heart beat faster. Those that are of vigorous intensity require more effort than the moderate ones.

Activities that involve muscular work, such as push-ups and weight lifting, make us stronger. It is important to work all parts of the body such as the legs, hips, back, chest, stomach, shoulders and arms, to obtain a better result. On the other hand, it is also important to perform exercises that strengthen the bones and promote growth, especially in children and adolescents. Finally, stretching activities improve physical stability and flexibility, which reduces the risk of injury. Examples of these are dance, yoga, martial arts and tai chi.

Myths around physical activity

Sometimes we believe that staying physically active is very expensive, because we need special clothes and equipment, or certain types of sports facilities. The truth is that it can be done anywhere and without the need for equipment. Simple things like a walk or run are doable pretty much anywhere.

Another common excuse may be lack of time, however specialists say that spending a minimum of 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week is more than enough.

Finally, age is not an obstacle either. Physical activity is necessary for people of all ages, from the smallest to the elderly.

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