Mother Nature knows best. There is a lot of truth to that old adage. Our bodies are the result of a process of natural selection that has been going on for millions of years and is still going on today. Our bodies were optimized for a certain way of living. As we have changed our way of living (think junk food and sitting in front of the TV), our bodies are trying to catch up, but cannot keep up over the short run of only a century or two. Changing the way we live has had some very bad effects on our health.
Our bodies were built to move and be active. With the exception of perhaps a few rich people over the centuries, no one was fat and no one was sedentary. If you didn’t move, you didn’t eat and you might even become a meal for some predator. We are now learning the price we pay when we become less active and it is a steep one.
Researchers have known for years that exercise was good for us but exactly how good and why is still the subject of research. The most recent research has revealed new information about the relationship between exercise and our health. The bottom line is that exercise benefits nearly every bodily function we have.
We have known for years that exercise was good for our cardiovascular system. It helped prevent high cholesterol, improved lung function, made the heart a more efficient pump, and increased our ability to continue to do active things as we aged. It helped reduce obesity, control blood sugar, and lowered blood pressure. But there is still more being discovered all the time. Here are some of the most recent findings about the benefits of exercise.
Exercise has a profound effect on the brain. It improves mood, reduces stress, and improves cognitive function. It reduces the risk of neurocognitive diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s. It does the latter by increasing the creation of new cells in the brain and improving connections between cells. It also restored the function of some cells and genes responsible for brain health. Essentially, it made them act as though the brain was years younger. It improves blood flow in the brain and reduces harmful inflammation.
Throughout the body, exercise turns on some good genes and reduces the activity of some genes we believe are harmful. These gene changes improved muscle function in patients with Type 2 diabetes, and improved liver health in patients with cirrhosis.
Scientists believe that activities which combine exercise for the body and challenges for the brain are especially effective for good brain health.
There is no one size of exercise that fits all or is best for all. Try some different things and see what works best for you. The most important characteristic of an exercise is that it be one you will continue to do.
Whatever exercise regimen you choose, get off the couch and get to it. Eat right, sleep well, exercise, meditate and you will give yourself the best chance for a healthy life.
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