Why Exercise is Important for Women’s Health

Fitness is often considered to be a form of self-care, however self-care can be treated like a novelty, a weekly activity to take time out. Whilst we know it is necessary, there are several studies and research to suggest that self-care and self-compassion can actually be quite difficult to act upon. If we view it as a ‘product based’ activity, we are in danger of oversimplifying it and therefore not really valuing its worth.

Why is exercise so important for women?

Needless to say, exercise is not just important for women, it is important for everyone! However all too often fitness is linked to aesthetic results, shape and size. Exercise is so much more than the way we look and primarily, it has a lot more to do with our physical and mental health on the inside. You could say aesthetic results are a by-product of consistent, healthy habits! For women especially, exercise can help with a number of health-related areas:

• Menstruation

• Hormonal imbalances

• The menopause

• Endometriosis

• Pregnancy

• Diabetes

• Bodily Aches and pains

• Blood pressure

A healthy lifestyle that incorporates a consistent exercise regime can support all of the above, which are often thought to be barriers for women when it comes to fitness and a healthy lifestyle.

Did you know?

• Exercise when on your period can help alleviate symptoms such as menstrual cramps, bloating, mood swings and fatigue. You may want to avoid overly strenuous exercise, however moderate and light exercise such as walking, some resistance and aerobic activity is absolutely fine to do.
  

• Just under a third of women stop exercising or see the menopause and knowledge around it as a barrier to maintaining an exercise routine. Although exercise isn’t proven to reduce menopausal symptoms, it can help manage symptoms such as weight gain, stress relief and mood boosting.
  

• The hormone, oestrogen triggers endometriosis (although there is still much research needed into what causes the condition) which leads to inflammation around the pelvic area. Exercise releases anti-inflammatory markers, which can reduce oestrogen levels. This in itself can work towards helping you manage endometriosis.
  

• Light to moderate exercise during pregnancy can help relieve certain symptoms of fatigue, nausea and strengthen your body to help prepare for your bundle of joy!

• Exercise can help support the management of glucose levels for those with diabetes. As exercise is stimulating the muscles and supporting the reduction of fat in the body (alongside a healthy and balanced diet) it is thought that regular exercise can help support healthy glucose levels in the blood and can prevent some blood vessel complications often associated with diabetes.
  

• Studies suggest women are more likely to develop conditions such as osteoarthritis than men. This is due to changes in our hormone levels, especially when going through the menopause and even as hormone levels fluctuate during menstruation. Consistent, strength-based exercises can help alleviate the pain by its very nature of strengthening muscles and bone density.
  

• Exercise and blood pressure are closely linked. Exercise helps strengthen the heart and a strong heart means it will pump blood around your body more effectively. This can alleviate pressure on your arteries, which then helps manage blood pressure levels!
  

What do these nuggets of information teach us? Quite simply, exercise is good for women!

As far as I am concerned, all women are superwomen! I don’t want you to question the way your bodies work so much, rather I want you to empower and strengthen them. The well-known metaphor, ‘my body is a temple’ is what I want all women to live and breathe. I want you to respect and nurture your body like you would all aspects of your life. And, it’s not just self-care it’s an intrinsic necessity to sustain a healthy and balanced way of life.