Let's get physical to reduce stress

May 4, 9:13 AMNutrition ExaminerCarol Bardelli

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Get physical with someone you love.

Study after study reinforces the value of regular exercise. Exercise has value above and beyond aiding in weight loss and weight maintenance. Themajority of people view exercise as a necessary evil to reach their weight goals. It's the few who view physical activity as pleasurable or make a sport(rock climbing, skiing, hiking, horseback riding, bodybuilding) an integral and enjoyable part of their lifestyle.

It's a sad fact of our modern society that physical activity is viewed as undesirable, relegated to the status of an inconvenience. We rely on cars, appliances, remote controls, drive-thru windows, elevators and escalators, to avoid moving our bodies any more than we have to. Yet all these conveniences can add up to physical de-conditioning, laziness, lowered metabolism, less calories burned, weight gain, and illnesses.

While studies continue to uncover the myriad benefits of regular exercise, activities we enjoy also relieve stress. Be it walking, jogging, working out at home or in a gym, individual and team sports, or simply doing more daily activities like household chores, the body is designed to be moved.  Simple changes like walking instead of taking the elevator can help.

People who are physically active enjoy healthier lives,sleep better, enjoy improved sex lives, cope better with stress, have brighter outlooks, experience less depression, have faster metabolisms, experience less illness, and have an easier time controlling their weight.

We as individuals have the power to reincorporate physical activity into our lifestyles. We can choose not to follow the couch-potato masses and view activity as a plus, an opportunity to enjoy movement that our bodies are designed for and require for optimal health. We can transform our lives by transforming physical exercise into a desirable and enjoyable endeavor by changing our views toward simply moving our bodies as intended.

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Video: Physical activity is associated with lower risk for obesity, heart disease, osteoporosis, hypertension, stroke, diabetes mellitus (type II), colon cancer and more.

For more info: Regular Exercise Can Stave Off Degenerative Eye Disease