It’s no secret that exercise is good for you. It offers myriad benefits that help keep you healthy and strong at any age. Regular workouts boost bone density, help strengthen your immune system, increase muscle mass, and help you lose weight.
If you’re already into fitness, then it helps to vary your workouts to avoid plateaus. If you're new to working out and don’t know where to start, you’ve got plenty of options. The key to getting the most from your fitness routine is consistency, so it’s important to find a workout that you look forward to. It doesn’t matter how beneficial a particular exercise is — you probably won’t stick with it if you hate doing it.
The best exercise for men combines cardio and strength training. Weight-bearing exercises are fantastic for building muscle strength and bone density, and weightlifting can also accelerate your progress. And if the Tour de France has you feeling inspired this summer, know that the benefits of cycling for men are pretty stellar. Whether you want to work out outside, at home, or the gym, here’s how regular exercise can benefit your health.
Exercise Keeps You Healthy
It can feel challenging to commit to a daily exercise routine if you’re new to working out. Knowing how critical fitness is to health can help increase your motivation.
Regular workouts can help you lose weight, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, create stronger bones, reduce your risk of colon cancer, and lead to a long, healthy life.
It Protects Your Mental Health
While you’re probably well aware that working out is great for your body, exercise is also vital for mental health. Living an active lifestyle is one of the most powerful ways to boost your mood, ease depression and anxiety, sleep better, and increase feelings of well-being.
Exercise can be a pivotal part of your treatment plan if you already manage a mental health condition, but you may need additional support, such as medication or talk therapy as well. Make sure to talk with your doctor or therapist before making any changes to your mental health treatment protocol.
Working Out Balances Testosterone
Research shows that there’s an important link between exercise and testosterone, but not all workouts affect your hormone levels the same way.
Balanced testosterone levels are important for everyone and can help preserve your health as you age. For men, testosterone helps regulate sex drive, muscle mass, overall strength, and boosts red blood cell and sperm production. Low testosterone levels in men can lead to thinner bones and hair, a decrease in libido, weight gain, low energy, and feelings of depression. Testosterone boosting exercises include:
Weightlifting
Bodyweight exercises
High-intensity interval training (HIIT)
Speaking of the Tour de France, It’s also worth noting that extreme, high-endurance workouts, such as cycling or running, can lower testosterone levels when done for many hours a day. These are still awesome, beneficial forms of exercise, but a more moderate daily schedule may be best for most men.
