You just spend a good 10-hour day in front of your computer screen, and the last thing you want to do is exercise. Let’s see, work out and improve your fitness level, or sit back with a glass of wine and watch your favorite late night TV show. What would you do?
Seventy percent of people know they should exercise, but
choose the wine and the TV show instead.
Do you know that this simple daily decision can end up being detrimental to your health? According to the USCDC, 54.1% of adults do not get the minimum level of exercise or physical activity recommended for wellness. The motto “use it or lose it” has never been more true.
The simple innocent choice not to exercise has been shown in studies to promote 10 serious health conditions you never want to develop. The bottom line is that physical inactivity has many deleterious health implications, even at the cellular level of our bodies. At the cellular level, inactivity decreases
the ability to transfer oxygen from the bloodstream to the cells, and also decreases the number of energy-activating mitochondria. However, the worst cost of not exercising or being physically active can result in the following 10 devastating conditions:
1. CANCER: Studies have shown that physically active men and women who are enthusiastic about exercise have a 30 to 40 percent lower risk of colon cancer compared to inactive people.
2. DIABETES: Studies show that lack of regular physical exercise increases insulin sensitivity. Diabetes is considered the “sedentary disease” that affects people at an alarming rate. If left unchecked, it can destroy the body’s organs.
3. HEART – Lack of constant physical activity, over time, decreases the function of the heart muscle, affects the blood vessels, including the large aortic artery, veins and small capillaries. Based on many studies, scientists have good reason to believe that regular exercise protects the
heart.
4. Stroke: People who exercise regularly are 25% less likely to have a stroke than their sedentary counterparts. Being fit lowers blood pressure, increases HDL cholesterol, and reduces the risk of blood clots.
5. BRAIN: People who are physically active, according to strong evidence, have a lower risk of cognitive decline and dementia.
6. MUSCLES: If you don’t exercise regularly, you risk losing about 6 percent of your muscle mass every decade of your life starting in your 30s. This also translates to a 10 to 15 percent loss of strength per decade. Once again, if you don’t use the muscle, you will lose it quickly.
7. OSTEOPOROSIS – Brittle bones cause over 1.5 million fractures each year in the US Bone is like muscle, if you stress it, it responds. If you don’t, it gradually loses its strength and increases your chances of breaking them. Regular weekly strength training can help prevent osteoporosis and lower your chances of breaking a bone.
8. MENTAL HEALTH – People who don’t exercise regularly are more likely to develop depression. According to a recent study, people who were more active were almost 20 percent less likely to be diagnosed with depression over the next five years than people who were less active. Fitness-conscious individuals also generally show better self-esteem or self-image.
9. WEIGHT – If you are inactive, year after year, you will eventually gain weight and lose fitness, increasing your chance of heart attack and diabetes.
10. IMMUNE SYSTEM – Moderate amounts of exercise reduce the
risk of upper respiratory tract infection. Regular exercise can increase
immune function.
Now I would like to ask the same question that I asked before. What
would you? Wine and television, or physical activity?
Now the good news! In just 30 minutes of exercise or
physical labor every day, can significantly decrease your chances of developing any of these horrible conditions listed above. This is the best “medicine” any doctor can prescribe!
I hope I have encouraged you to be more physically.
active today and beyond. Your quality of life depends on
that. Consider these the most important words you will ever hear
today!
Remember, you have a choice. Make the fitness choice.
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For information on how to develop a fitness program
that delivers twice the results in half the time, visit
Wellness Word multimedia newsletter at http://www.WellnessWord.com
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