"Those who think they have not time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness"
-Edward Stanley, the Early of Derby, 1873
"Eating alone will not keep a man well; he must also take exercise. For food and exercise, while possessing opposite qualities, yet work to produce health."
-Hippocrates, fifth century
You guessed it, folks. Exercise. I don't really care how it gets done: chasin' the kids around the oak tree, takin' the bad beagles for a walk, or rather, a pull, shakin' your "humps and lumps" or what have you to some Fergie, or, if you are my mother, doing some sort of chicken dance to any sort of beat she hears. Yes, she clucks and struts to the Geico commercials (Love you, mom!) Side note: Dear God, please have that quirk skip a generation.
As much as I truly do care if you are eating your pomegranates and pumpkin and munchin' on those leafy greens, the most critical change you can make in your daily life is movin' those limbs!
You must exercise. It's that simple. Alright, end of blog. I see you are abundantly motivated and are strappin' on your sweat suit and lacin' up those Nikes as we speak!! Or not??? Ok, I will go on...
We, as a nation, are at a standstill, quite literally. Drive to work. Sit at our desks. O, wait, I saw some movement! Yup, there was definitely a "right click" in there (Real Mouse)! Drive home. Mmmmm, couch! Clicker. Clicker. Clicker. Nighty-night! Nearly 30% of Americans are entirely and another 46% do not receive enough exercise. That means only about a quarter of Americans get sufficient exercise. Yikes! That's it!?! And with that lack of movement comes a decline in muscle mass over the course of the adult life. Losing that muscle causes not only a loss of strength, balance, and a chiseled gluteus maximus (and medius and minimus, for that matter) but also, a reduction in caloric expenditure and an overall physical decline.
Of course exercise is good for sweating off those cheese curds from the Minnesota State Fair this week, but what about all the other benefits?
Exercise can: decrease blood pressure, decrease levels of LDL or "bad" cholesterol, incease levels of HDL or "good" cholesterol, boost the immune system, increase endorphins in the brain, and, in turn, increase mood, make your heart stronger. O, I could go on and on.
As far as preventing and improving diseases, exercise has been shown to aid in: Coronary artery disease (CAD), heart disease, osteoporosis, stroke, obesity, type II diabetes, depression, colon cancer, arthritis, breast and prostate cancer...and again, on and on.
These are impressive lists and many of the mentioned benefits can even begin to work immediately, such as aiding in depression by increasing endorphins in the brain and allowing your cells to take up more glucose; for, a moving muscle is a hungry muscle! Sure, you're sweating a bit. Ok, actually, you're quite certain Niagra Falls (clearly going to need to change anti-perspirants) has located itself under your right armpit. Shoot. Perhaps your muscles are aching and you are breathing as if that guy on the treadmill next to you has inhaled the last of the oxygen in the room BUT let me tell you, there are amazing things happening at the cellular level, friends!
You are increasing circulating T- and B-lymphocytes. Basically, these are your bodies warriors, helping protect you against any foreign invaders. Back, flu, back!!
You are reducing body fat. At an increased aerobic state, your body will utilize your fat stores along with your carbohydrate stores at a quicker rate than if you were just sitting and watching your favorite crime show on television (Pretty :)
You are altering hormone levels. Exercise can help reduce cortisol, a hormone that can increase the amount of abdominal obesity one carries.
You are increasing gastrointestinal motility. How about we just don't go there. You get the idea. But yes, this is a good thing.
You are improving insulin resistance. A moving muscle is a hungry muscle! If you are an individual with chronically increased blood sugars, or even if you are not, exercise will help increase of the effects of your insulin on carrying the glucose in your blood into your cell for energy.
Since those previous factors are ones that are more commonly discussed by your doctor, I'd like to talk just a bit about how exercise keeps you young and smart. Studies have shown that much of the overall physical and mental decline that we experience between teh ages of 30 and 70 has more to do with a sedentary lifestyle that with the aging process. EXERCISE PRESERVES OUR BRAINS!!!! So yes, perhaps you are o.k. with living with a couple extra pounds around your middle, but what about declining brain activity!? It is rather disheartening to learn that the human brain begins to lose tissue early in the third decade of life, but exercise to the rescue! Studies have shown that a higher rate of cardiovascular fitness will in turn produce a brain that is more adaptive to change, even for those who are older! A smarter brain just by moving those legs. Exercise is the simplest and easiest way to delay the effects of aging on the human brain tissue. I do believe it is about time to start planning that exercise regimen! It is never too late. Seize the day! Today, right now, is a better time than ever!
Eat Intelligently, Friends!
Or rather, in this case,
Exercise to improve and maintain your intelligence, Friends!
.:.KatePaige.:.
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