9 Reasons To Get Your Sweat On!

You put your body through its paces because you know staying active is good for it. But here are nine hidden benefits of exercise that may come as a surprise.

- Allison Young

You know working out is good for you. You’ve already experienced the bod benefits first-hand and have the #fitspo photos to prove it, but the reasons for breaking a sweat go way beyond your now perkier booty. Sure, better sleep and less stress come with the territory, but you already knew that. We’re talking surprising perks that affect everything from your health and happiness to how you deal with road rage. Get ready to have your mind blown!

1. CUTS YOUR RISK OF CANCER

You know that sweating can stave off heart disease and diabetes (duh!), but all those squats and sprints could be flexing your cancer-fighting muscles, too. Working out is tied to a lower risk of 13 different types of cancer, including esophageal, liver, lung, kidney and breast cancer — with the top exercisers reducing their risk even more, according to a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine. Other studies have found that regular exercise can reduce women’s breast cancer risk by 20 to 30 percent. Take that, big C!

2. BEEFS UP THE BRAIN

You’ve probably heard that you’re born with all your brain cells and that’s it. Not so, says Karen Postal, Ph.D., clinical instructor in psychology at Harvard Medical School: “Exercise is the only thing we know that can make new brain cells grow.” Working out floods your noggin with brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF), a chemical essential for maintaining healthy neurons and creating new ones. Plus, studies show that getting sweaty increases cells in the hippocampus, the area of the brain responsible for memory and learning. “You’re 50 percent less likely to get Alzheimer’s if you are exercising on a regular basis,” Postal adds. Other research shows that getting your heart rate up on the regular can slow brain aging by 10 years.