Welcyon News

Did you ever think of your body as a factory? Well, it is. And physical activity/exercise is the power switch that turns your factory on and keeps it humming along. What does your factory produce in response to exercise? Essential hormones. The word "hormone" comes from a group word that means "impetus" — these biochemicals in your body make things happen! Once produced and carried in your blood, they flow throughout your body and stimulate an extremely wide-range of body processes. Let's look at just a few hormones and what they do:

Growth Hormone: Stimulates the building and strengthening of muscle, bone, tendons, ligaments and cartilage.

Endorphins: Block pain, decrease appetite, create positive feelings, and reduce tension and anxiety.

Testosterone and Estrogen: Build and maintain muscle, increase metabolism, burn fat, and increase confidence and libido.

Thyroxine: Raises metabolic rate and increases energy levels.

Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor: Stimluates the growth of brain cells, thereby maintaining or improving brain function and helping to increase mental sharpness and ward off dementia and cognitive decline.

The benefit of exercising your body-factory regularly is obvious. Get stronger, burn fat, feel more energetic, improve your mood, and so much more. Exercise most days of the week and produce away!