Do you wonder what the benefits of running, walking, biking, swimming, and hiking are? Besides the obvious fact of helping to keep weight gain down? All of these activities and many more produce endorphins, the hormones produced by the brain that make us feel on top of the world. And the great thing about endorphins is that they don't have side effects, unlike other drugs that are toxic to the body and can be dangerously addictive. In addition to improving mental alertness aerobic conditioning may also reduce one's risk of mental decline. Just twenty minutes a day of getting your heart rate into the moderate intensity zone can provide all these benefits.
Just don't overdo it in these dogs days of summer. If you are new to exercise, take it slow in the beginning and make sure as always to hydrate. A little muscle soreness after physical activity is okay but if you are so sore you cannot get out of bed in the morning, you probably over did it. Exercise is free! You don't need a gym membership to get the benefits that the members enjoy. Check out your local park or try out that hiking trail you pass everyday on your way to work. Swimming has the benefit of cooling you down and also providing a low impact workout. See you at the pool!
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