Being physically fit is
good for your overall health and well-being. You can begin an
exercise program you develop yourself, join a gym, or hire a
personal trainer. You can also participate in your favorite
sport. Any of these activities done on a regular basis will
provide you with the health benefits you need.
The benefits you receive from exercising for
fitness include:
Maintaining and improving your health.
Increasing your self confidence.
Reducing stress.
Retarding the aging process.
If you have not exercised in a while, you
should start slowly. Don't push yourself. Instead of getting
health benefits, you may injure yourself.
With your exercise program, you should be
eating a healthy, nutritious diet. Seek the advice of your
doctor and a nutritionist to develop a customized diet and
exercise plan based on your needs.
Your diet should consist of foods from all the
food groups. You need carbohydrates and fats. The source
of your carbohydrates is fruits, vegetables, oats, rice,
potatoes, and cereals. These foods will have the vitamins,
minerals, and fiber you need. Your fruits and vegetables
also contain enzymes and micronutrients for a healthy
diet.
Animal fats should be avoided. You should eat
foods that contain polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats.
Polyunsaturated fats can be found in vegetable oils such as
safflower, corn, sunflower, soy, and cottonseeds.
Monounsaturated fats include olive oil, peanut oil, and canola
oil. High amounts of monounsaturated fat can also be found in
avocados and most nuts. Another source of polyunsaturated fats
is Omega-2 fatty acids found in salmon, mackerel, herring, and
other cold-water fish.
Polyunsaturated fats lower your risk of heart
disease by reducing the LDL cholesterol levels in your blood.
Omega-3 fatty acids appear to be beneficial to the heart by
lowering the risk of heart disease.
When you decide to make the change in your life
to be physically fit, combine your exercise program with your
diet and you will be able to maintain a healthy weight and
reduce the chances of several diseases.