Moving your body is one of the most beneficial things you can do for your health. Just 30 minutes of physical activity daily releases certain hormones such as testosterone, insulin, and human growth hormone. These hormones play crucial roles in muscle growth and maintenance of a healthy level of bone density. This can prevent certain medical conditions such as osteoporosis later in life.
Additionally, muscle loss is prevented through the stimulation of anabolic hormones that promotes muscle growth. With exercise, muscle fibers experience hypertrophy, a process in which the volume of the cell increases in size. This allows for a greater strength output and increases physical performance.
Exercise also positively impacts your cardiovascular health. Some benefits may include improved stamina, heart health, and increased mitochondrial density. As muscle tissue grows, it requires a greater number of mitochondria in order to produce enough energy for movement. This carries over into other aspects of life by decreasing the difficulty of performing daily tasks and increasing resistance to fatigue.
No matter the form or the amount of exercise you choose, any type of movement can have a positive impact on your health.
Konopka, A. R., & Harber, M. P. (2014, April). Skeletal muscle hypertrophy after aerobic exercise training. Exercise and sport sciences reviews. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4523889/.