Summer is just around the corner and it is getting warmer and warmer. That means here In Canada we can start exercising outside.
So here are my: Top 5 Benefits of Exercising Outdoors
Sorry gym rats but there are more benefits of exercising outdoors than indoors. Summer weather is upon us and there are so many activities you can now take outdoors. Running, swimming, park workouts, beach workouts and cycling are amongst the activities you can do outdoors when the weather cooperates. There are a vast number of benefits to taking the workout outside and here are our Top 5:
1. Sun exposure increases vitamin D levels in the body and helps optimize hormones.
2. Oxygen levels are higher in the fresh air outdoors than indoors.
3. Exercising outdoors has been proven to make you happier and lower rates of depression.
4. Outdoor greenery can raise serotonin levels.
5. There is more sensory stimulation with exercising outdoors than indoors.
VITAMIN D
According to the Vitamin D Council, the sun is a good source. Vitamin D is also especially important for good overall health and strong and healthy bones. I also helps fight infection by helping your in the muscles, heart, lungs and brain work optimally. According to the Vitamin D Council “a lack of vitamin D has also been linked to some other conditions such as cancer, asthma, type-II diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, Alzheimer’s and autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s and type-I diabetes.”
OXYGEN
Outdoors air has more oxygen than the air we breath indoors. Indoors the air can be destroyed by tobacco smoke, city smog fumes, re-circulating air in buildings, improper ventilation, exhaust, and other pollutants. Aqua 4 Balance states that ome of the bad side affects from a lack of fresh air are caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain include, fatigue, drowsiness, dullness of mind and irritability.
DEPRESSION
Nature increases positive thoughts and feelings of happiness and well-being. Exercising outside has been shown to reduce depression or symptoms of depression. Research has shown that exercise is an effective treatment for mild to moderate depression. A current study, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, followed a similar method to one from 2008 that showed that a one-hour walk in a woodland park improved memory and attention. Web Md states that endorphins that are released during exercise trigger “a positive feeling in the body, similar to that of morphine. For example, the feeling that follows a run or workout is often described as “euphoric.” That feeling, known as a “runner’s high,” can be accompanied by a positive and energizing outlook on life.” Regular exercise has been proven in studies to reduce stress, ward off anxiety and feelings of depression, boost self-esteem and improve sleep.
SEROTONIN
Serotonin levels are increased when you exercise outdoors or in green spaces. What is serotonin you ask? According to Australian Lifestyle serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is important in appetite control, sleep and our general metabolism.
SENSORY STIMULATION
The outdoors is constantly changing. You see birds, as you walk terrain changes, people you walk by have different faces, there are sounds and smells. Exercise is beneficial for physical and mental health and sensory stimulation can improve the quality of life for the average person and especially people with mental dementia according to Alzhemers.Org.
We hope that these 5 benefits of exercising outdoors motivated you! Don’t you just want to grab a pair of runners and hit the park for a workout session. Get up, get outside and get active!
