REASONS TO EXERCISE BEYOND THE OBVIOUS

by Eileen Simmons

Exercise may prevent certain types of cancer.   Women who exercise significantly reduce their chances of developing breast and reproductive system cancer. Scientists believe that because long-term exercisers have a lower body fat, they also have a decreased estrogen production and less potential estrogen. Breast and uterus cells divide less frequently, decreasing the chance of tumor formation. Men and women who exercise are less like to develop colon cancer.

Exercise relieves depression.  If you already exercise, you know this. You know that there’s nothing like a long walk or a brisk bike ride to help you overcome the bad mood you’re in after a hard day.  When your body moves, your mind and spirit move. You don’t have to become a long-distance runner to experience this. One report shows that mildly to moderately depressed patients who do aerobic exercises 20 to 30 minutes at least every other day often experience a lifting of spirits in just two to three weeks.

Exercise slows the aging process.  It’s never too late to start an exercise program. Regular exercising reduces the rate at which people lose aerobic capacity as they age. Non-exercisers lose aerobic capacity at about 10% per decade. A proper exercise program can help people 30 and over increase their aerobic capacity 15-30%. People 40 and over can reduce the rate at which they lose their aerobic capacity by beginning a regular exercise program. Exercise also keeps you looking younger because promotes better skin tone and elasticity.

Exercise reduces the risk of heart disease.  Exercise makes your heart more efficient by increasing the amount of blood pumped per heartbeat and the amount of blood that circulates throughout the body. The exercised heart transfers oxygen to the body’s cells more easily. People who exercise significantly decrease their chances of a heart attack.

Exercise may help ward off infection.   Because white blood cells and interleukin-1, both parts of the immune system, are temporarily elevated by exercise, the person who exercises may have an enhanced ability to resist colds, flue and other infections.

Exercise raises “good” cholesterol.”   The two most important types of cholesterol in our blood are LDL (the “bad” cholesterol and HDL (the “good” cholesterol). Exercise raises the HDL level.

Exercise improves the quality of sleep.   When you work out regularly, your muscles are less tense and you relax more easily at night. When that happens, you go to sleep quicker, sleep sounder and awake more refreshed than your friends who don’t sleep.

Exercise relieves stress and anxiety.  When you’re tense and worried, your body builds up hormones and other blood chemicals. Exercise gets rid of these stress products. About 90 minutes after vigorous exercise, you’ll begin to feel emotionally relaxed.  This may also be a result of endorphins —chemicals that induce euphoria —that are believed to be produced by exercise.

As you can tell from this list, exercise is beneficial, even essential, to good health, especially if your cholesterol level is above normal. Getting daily exercise doesn’t mean you have to visit a gym for hours on end. You can take the steps instead of the elevator, park at the far end of the parking lot when you’re shopping, get up and walk in place vigorously during commercials when you’re watching TV, or take your dog for a walk around the park a couple of times a day. Anything that gets you up and moving is beneficial.  Vigorous exercise 3-4 times per week that gets your heart rate up is most beneficial.  If you need to: Find a friend and exercise together; go to a gym you like and meet friends; just get committed on your own and DO IT.  Make a decision to never watch your favorite TV show unless you have run in place for 20 minutes first.  Make it happen and your body will reward you.  Of course, consult your physician for the starting program that would be best for you and your symptoms or disease.  To exercise faithfully, you may need to get creative.  Don’t let your health suffer because you don’t like to exercise.  Find something you do like to do – Please!  Your future health depends on it!

However, when you’re exercising, you’re also depleting your body of vitamins and minerals. That’s why YFH recommends blood testing to find out what vitamins and minerals you’re using and to use those tests, as the basis of building a nutritional program that will meet your personal needs.

Eight Reasons Why You Should Exercise by Katy Koontz

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