© Shutterstock

It's good for your love life -

Exercise can boost your love life by optimizing your hormone levels, particularly testosterone.

© Shutterstock

It’s good for your brain -

Exercise improves blood flow by making your blood vessels larger so the blood can circulate smoothly. Not only is this great news for your heart, it's also good for your brain.

© Shutterstock

It’s good for your brain -

Improved blood flow might help prevent cognitive decline in a number of ways. Studies have shown that it can lead to a decline in Alzheimer's disease.

© iStock

It’s good for your brain -

In a study, high-intensity exercise showed an increase in the participants brains' glucose uptake, and higher metabolic activity on the parts of the brain most affected by Parkinson's disease.

© Shutterstock

It’s good for memory -

Exercise increases the size of the hippocampus (the part of the brain responsible for memory) and also increases nerve cell connections in the brain.

© iStock

It builds muscle -

This will obviously depend on the type of exercise, but most will improve your body composition.

© iStock

Why is more muscle good? -

Having more muscle mass has a number of health benefits. Namely, a decreased risk of diabetes.

© iStock 

Muscle mass and diabetes -

Muscle is the largest consumer of glucose after a meal, meaning that a glucose spike will be controlled faster, minimizing the risk of high blood sugar for prolonged periods of time. A scenario that’s not good for people prone to diabetes.

© iStock

Muscle mass as anti-aging -

Building muscle can help fight against oxidative damage that naturally occurs as we age.

© Shutterstock

Anti-aging -

As we age, a decline in the function of mitochondria, our cells' energy generators, occurs. The mitochondria is then unable to work properly and that can lead cells to generate more oxidants, leading to degeneration.

© iStock

Anti-aging -

According to a study, aerobic exercise, on its own, or in combination with strength training, improves mitochondrial function, therefore reducing oxidative damage.

© iStock

Anti-aging -

High-intensity interval training also has a similar effect, a study shows.

© Shutterstock

Muscle works as a reservoir -

Muscle stores amino acids. When an organ needs amino acids, these are usually drawn from muscle.

© Shutterstock

Amino acids are essential for immunity -

The immune system needs lots of amino acids. It uses these to make antibodies that fight infection.

© Shutterstock

Signaling molecules -

Building muscles pumps a number of molecules into the blood. These molecules, known as myokines, are released in response to muscle exertion and can actually influence how other organs work.

© Shutterstock

Signaling molecules -

These molecules help regulate muscle growth, nutrient metabolism, and inflammation, among others.

© iStock 

Interleukin-6 -

This molecule in particular can help suppress hunger and enhance the immune system's response to cancer.

© Shutterstock

Cathepsin B -

This other signaling molecule can actually contribute to the production of new brain cells.

© Shutterstock

Helps fight inflammation -

Chronic inflammation has been suggested as the underlying reason for many diseases to develop.

© Shutterstock

Helps fight inflammation -

Exercise can help prevent the accumulation of visceral fat, which is more inflamed than subcutaneous fat, and can contribute to chronic inflammation.

© iStock

As good as substances? -

A study found that “no statistically detectable differences were evident between exercise and interventions in the secondary prevention of coronary heart disease and prediabetes.”

© iStock

Diabetes -

While not conclusive, another study indicated that more than half of the participants with type 2 diabetes were able to stop taking medication to lower their blood sugar within a year of taking up regular exercise.

© iStock

Stroke -

A study showed that exercise was more effective than treatment among stroke patients.

© Shutterstock

Mental health -

Another study found that “exercise improves mental health by reducing anxiety, depression, and negative mood and by improving self-esteem and cognitive function.”

© iStock

Mental health - The same study also found that exercise “alleviates symptoms such as low self-esteem and social withdrawal.”

© iStock

Mental health - Exercise also helps against stress, by reducing the body's stress hormones (e.g. adrenaline and cortisol), and by stimulating the production of endorphins (feel-good hormones).

© iStock

Sleep - According to the Sleep Foundation, exercise can help you sleep better at night and feel more alert during the day.

© Shutterstock

Bone health -

According to the NHS, regular exercise reduces the risk of osteoarthritis by 83%, and can lower the risk of hip fracture up to 68%.

© iStock

A medicine in its own right? -

Exercise is shown to be an effective way to help avoid a number of conditions, and boost the immune system.

© iStock

See also - Skip the gym and do these exercises at home instead

© iStock