Yesterday we began talking about the magic bullet that physical activity is. The hidden benefits of exercise go way beyond the obvious. In addition to weight management and protection against chronic diseases, the benefits extend to boosting the immune system and acting as an anti-aging agent.
“No pill or nutrititional supplement has the power of near-daily moderate activity n lowering the number of sick days people take,” said David Nieman, director of Appalachian State University’s Human Performance Lab in North Carolina. He has conducted several studies showing that people who walked briskly for 45 minutes a day, 5 days a week over 12-15 weeks had fewer and less severe respiratory infections such as colds or bouts with the flu. Participants in the group that exercised not only stayed healthier and lost less days of work, but those that did get sick reported milder symptoms and regained their health more rapidly. It’s not a coincidence that back in 1918, the soldiers that trained under Joseph Pilates ALL avoided contracting that tragic influenza that killed so many others. How ahead of his time that man was!
When it comes to an anti-aging prescription, exercise might have it over all the rest. The brilliant Dr. Oz first introduced me to the word telemer. They are the strands of DNA at the tips of our chromosomes. He described them to be like shoe lace ends. We all know the way they begin to unravel and eventually come apart over time. When telemers begin to do this very same thing, they shorten causing cells to stop dividing. When the cells stop dividing they become inactive. This process is associated with aging, cancer and a higher risk of death.
Physical and mental health stimulator, immune booster, anti-aging agent and so much more. I stumbled into this fitness world, trading some really unhealthy additctions in for a much healthier one. I am off to exercise. Are you?
Rita says
Dr Oz!!! Anything he says is gospel to me. He is such a brilliant doctor and his common sense suggestions are so easy and beneficial to follow. Thanks for the review on telemers. I am off to load the “magic bullet.”
Carolanne says
Love Dr. Oz – he has a way of explaining medical issues so the average person understands exactly what he’s talking about. He had a feature in last week’s Sun-Sentinel, USA Weekend Magazine “New Year, New You”
I’m thinking back over the past 3 years and I’ve only had 1 or 2 colds in all that time, compared to my hubby (who does not exercise regularly) who has had at least 3 each year!
No day is complete for me without a dose of endorphins. I got mine today – Yay!