Prevention is Key

Health and fitness professionals alike continually stress the importance of preventative health maintenance. We get regular check-ups with our doctor, quit smoking, eat a balanced diet, and exercise on a regular basis to decrease the likelihood of developing chronic diseases. Chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity can develop throughout all stages of our lives. This is why health professionals continually emphasize the importance of preventative health measures such as participating in physical activity to optimize total health; every little bit adds up over time. Making the effort to stay active and exercise is our number one tool to decrease the likelihood of developing chronic diseases and combat the effects of aging. Recommendations for physical activity would include accumulating 20 minutes per day of aerobic activity to improve heart health and at least two sessions of resistance training per week. Consistently exercising is healthy, but what kind of benefits can we expect to attain? Here are some benefits one could expect to gain from participating in regular physical activity.

Adaptations from Aerobic Exercise
Increase in:
Cardiovascular function with greater blood flow and cardiac output
Maximal oxygen uptake, greater endurance, and delivery of oxygen to tissues
Metabolic function like burning more fat tissue at rest and ultimately decreasing total body fat mass

Adaptations from Weight Training
Increase in muscle mass, total metabolism, and bone density
Decreases in insulin sensitivity, blood pressure, total cholesterol, and triglycerides.

Exercise has also been proven to aid with reducing anxiety, decreasing mild depression, enhancing overall mood and self esteem, and significantly reducing stress. Other adaptations might include boosted immunity, improved brain function, and so many more. The benefits of regular exercise are numerous and can even save us money in health care costs up to $500 annually! Ultimately exercise is the greatest tool that we have at our disposal to combat developing chronic diseases and maintaining optimal health.

Sources:
American College of Sports Medicine
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
World Health Organization