The simple way to describe physical health is how well someone’s body works. The body is made up of various complex systems which, when all working well, allow us not only to survive but thrive in our day-to-day lives. It’s important to keep these machines in the body well oiled so that great physical condition is maintained for a happier and healthier life to be realised.
Here Are The Five Ingredients Of Great Physical Health:
Muscular Strength
Although most of us are never going to look like a prime Arnold Schwarzenegger, good muscular strength is still needed by everyone in order to lift and carry heavy objects in day-to-day life. Although muscular strength declines with age, lack of muscular strength can often lead to other conditions such as heart disease and type-1 diabetes.
Muscular strength can be increased by lifting weights where the focus should be in the 4-6 or 12-15 rep ranges for maximising hypertrophy and also through bodyweight exercises.
Muscular Endurance
Simply defined as the muscles ability to work at extended periods of time, muscular endurance can also be improved through lifting weights. However, rather than lifting heavier weights muscular endurance is trained through lifting light weights but in the 20-25 rep range. This trains the exact muscle fibres needed to build muscular endurance.
Muscular endurance is commonly needed in sports such as rowing, cycling, boxing, figure skating and rock climbing.
Cardiovascular Endurance
Oftentimes the most dreaded, cardiovascular endurance is the body’s ability to keep up with the needs of the lungs, heart and blood vessels when exercising for extended periods of time. When exercise puts the body under stress, the heart and lungs are required to supply oxygen to the muscles in order for them to be able to keep up with the activity they are doing.
Cardiovascular endurance can be improved through running, walking and is needed most in sports such as the 10,000 metres, 800 metres and marathons.
Flexibility
One of the most important yet overlooked components of physical health is flexibility. Good flexibility means the body can move through its entire range of motion without pain or stiffness. A good way this can be tested is through the Sit and Reach Test where you lean forward and try to touch your toes. Those with good flexibility will be able to touch their toes and those with limited flexibility won’t be able to.
One of the best ways flexibility can be improved is through Yoga.
Body Fat Composition
This refers to the amount of fat on someone’s body. It slightly differs for men and women where men are recommended to have a body fat composition lower than 17% whereas women are recommended to have a body fat composition lower than 24%. Excess body fat leads to risks such as high blood pressure, cancer, osteoarthritis, heart attacks, depression as well as many more detrimental conditions.
Good ways to lower body fat composition include HIIT, weight training, eating the correct amount of macronutrients, managing stress and getting enough sleep.
The Bottom Line
The bottom line is that although in the modern day many have little time to pay attention to their health, it’s something that needs to be prioritised otherwise there comes risk of an array of health issues which are detrimental in the long-term.
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